Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Emergency Manager must stay apprised of local, state, and federal rules, regula-
tions, ordinances, statutes, and laws that may govern the way in which they conduct
business. Some standards are voluntary standards, whereas others are mandatory.
The Emergency Manager must be able to make a determination as to what is in the
best interest of their organization, and include possibly a mixture of standards into
their strategy planning.
Goal and Initiative Development
Planning Team
Developing the department or organizational goals for an Emergency Management
program strategy should involve all members of the Emergency Management staff,
and in some cases, any supervisors of the Emergency Management Coordinator or
Director. The Emergency Manager may also decide that it is relevant to invite other
Emergency Management stakeholders (i.e., Public Works, Public Information,
Schools, etc.) to participate in the strategy building process. Having multiple inputs
into what goals and initiatives shall be set forth is critical in gaining holistic under-
standing and buy-in to the overall strategy. Having multiple people involved in the
strategy building process also ensures that the strategy is comprehensive and that
all elements in the Emergency Management program are addressed.
Format and Structure of Strategy Document
Before goals can be established, it is wise to develop an outline or format of how
the goals and initiative are to be laid out. There are several formats that can be
used for structure. The decision as to what format should be chosen is a matter
of preference of the Emergency Manager. However, the format should reflect the
general foundational structure of the department or organization (if one has been
developed). Some examples of formats for Emergency Management program strate-
gies can include:
Four Phases Format
As discussed previously in Chapter 1, in this approach the four phases
(some now use five to include “prevention”) of Emergency Management are
used to outlined program areas. The four phases of Emergency Management
include prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Under
each area, a list of pertinent goals and initiatives can be developed (Figure
4.2). Discussion of goal and initiative development will be explained later in
this chapter.
Incident Command System Format
This approach can be used by Emergency Management agencies that have
set themselves up in accordance with the ICS Structure. This format splits goals
