HLSC 600 Discussion 5
Effective Emergency Management Response
Effective emergency management response should utilize the resources that have been
developed over the years for disaster response. The response phase is defined as “activities
designed to provide emergency assistance for casualties, seek to reduce the probability of
secondary damage, and to speed recovery operations” (National Governors’ Report 1979, p. 13).
The ultimate priority obviously is the protection of human lives, and this is done through the
development of thorough and thoughtful response plans. There are a multitude of areas that must
be considered depending on the type of threats possible for the geographic location. When a
known hazard or disaster is imminent, the response process is supported by the mitigation efforts
that have been done. By doing so, these mitigation and planning steps make the recovery process
more efficient and effective.
When you think of response, you think of the first responders who are tasked with going
in and rescuing victims from destroyed homes and buildings. There are many other components
of the response beyond search and rescue. According to Phillips (2016) the activation of the EOC
should take place, warnings to the public should be provided, the various responding authorities
should be brought into the notification stream, personnel and resources should be mobilized. , If
an evacuation becomes necessary, shelters need to be opened initiating evacuation, and those that
have been rescued will likely need to receive medical services.
Within the incident management framework, The National Emergency Management
System (NIMS) is one that has been developing in the last two decades. “NIMS was designed to
coordinate the response of local, state, and federal responders and decision makers by
establishing an Incident Command System (ICS), standardizing communications, working for
joint preparedness (planning, training, qualifications, certification) (Lester & Krejci 2007, p. 84).
There must be an organized method to put an emergency plan into action and NIMS offers that
capability. NIMS is predicated on the (ICS which was originally developed by the fire services.
NIMS offers a useful form improving coordination between the responding parties and
harmonizes their activities (Phillips et al., 2016). By providing common terminology, responders
essentially are all reading off the same script. Response activities such as finance, logistics and
planning are standardized which greatly improves coordination activities.
NIMS is certainly a powerful resource to help guide emergency managers, it does not
solve the plethora of issues and challenges that arise. NIMS is not a response plan, and it is not
only to be used during large-scale incidents. While NIMS provides guidance for emergency
managers, it should not be relied upon as the only means to coordinate response. It simply cannot
cover all contingencies and there will always be a need for human ingenuity and perseverance to
overcome problems.
As we have read, there is good reason to have an orderly plan to respond to disasters.
This allows for all possible issues to be considered and the thorough plan used to save lives. As
the Bible says, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (King James Bible, 1769/2017, 1
Corinthians 14:40). Emergency planners must be organized and thorough in the development of
their plans as the Bible commands.
References
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org
(Original work published 1769)
Lester, W., & Krejci, D. (2007). Business “not” as usual: The national incident management
system, federalism, and leadership. Public Administration Review, 67, 84-93.
National Governors' Association. Center for Policy Research, & United States. Defense Civil
Preparedness Agency. (1979). Comprehensive emergency management: A governor's
guide. [Department of Defense], Defense Civil Preparedness Agency.
Phillips, B. D., Neal, D. M., & Webb, G. R. (2016). Introduction to Emergency Management
(2nd Edition). Taylor & Francis.
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781315394688
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