Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
facilities. These are seen to be local responsibilities, and are taken into consideration
by the local jurisdictions.
Another example can be found with the Michigan Department of State
Police Emergency Management Division. They have issued a “Local Emergency
Management Standards”* document. This listing of standards includes many
required and recommended elements that local jurisdictions should include in
their Emergency Management programs. The elements in the Michigan document
include requirements and recommendations for planning, training, exercise, and
administration for the four phases of Emergency Management—mitigation, pre-
paredness, response, and recovery.
Many times these state standards and requirements can be tied to funding
streams, and compliance with these standards can affect the eligibility to access
these funds. The funds can come in the form of grants, technical assistance, and
disaster assistance. Therefore, it is important that the Emergency Manager become
familiar with any State Emergency Management standards that may be set forth
for their organization, and take them into consideration when constructing their
Emergency Management program strategy.
NIMS Requirements
Following the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September
11, 2001, it was determined that a national approach to incident management
would further improve the effectiveness of emergency response providers
†
and inci-
dent management organizations when dealing with any hazard, whether it be natu-
ral, man-made, or technological. This national approach would be applicable to all
jurisdictional levels and functional disciplines in order to allow for consistency in
emergency and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
On February 28, 2003, the President issued Homeland Security Presidential
Directive (HSPD)-5, which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop
and administer a NIMS. According to HSPD-5:
This system will provide a consistent nationwide approach for Federal,
State, and local governments to work effectively and efficiently together
to prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regard-
less of cause, size, or complexity. To provide for interoperability and
*
State of Michigan. Local Emergency Management Standards. Lansing: State of Michigan,
1998. Print.
†
As defined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Section 2(6), “The term 'emergency
response providers' includes Federal, State, and local emergency public safety, law enforce-
ment, emergency response, emergency medical (including hospital emergency facilities), and
related personnel, agencies, and authorities.” 6 U.S.C. 101 (6). This definition includes all City
of Plano agencies and personnel, as those outside of public safety are categorized in the “related
personnel, agencies, and authorities.”
