Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
can be continued throughout, or resumed rapidly after, a disruption of normal
activities.
The eight NEFs represent the overarching responsibilities of the federal govern-
ment to lead and sustain the nation and will be the primary focus of the federal
government's leadership during and in the aftermath of an emergency.
PMEFs are MEFs that must be performed in order to support the performance
of NEFs before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency. PMEFs need to be
continuous or resumed within 12 hours after an event and maintained for up to
30 days or until normal operations can be resumed.
MEFs are a broader set of essential functions that includes not only an organi-
zation's PMEFs, but also all other organization functions that must be continued
throughout or resumed rapidly after a disruption of normal activities, but that do
not rise to the level of being PMEFs. MEFs are those functions that enable an
organization to provide vital services, exercise civil authority, maintain the safety of
the public, and sustain the industrial/economic base during disruption of normal
operations.
When identifying an organization's essential functions and categorizing them
as MEFs or PMEFs, organizations with incident management responsibilities must
incorporate them into their continuity planning requirements for performing these
functions. Integration of continuity planning with incident management plan-
ning and operations includes responsibilities delineated in the National Response
Framework (NRF) and is linked to an organization's ability to conduct its essential
functions.
In short, MEFs are the responsibilities/tasks an organization is required to
complete to be considered “operational.” Each organization has its own distinct
operational responsibilities. Therefore, each organization will then have to have its
own unique list of MEFs it is required to conduct, and all of these functions serve
a distinct purpose in ensuring continuity of government. Following is an example
list of MEFs from various organizations:
◾
Transport inmates to/from court proceedings (Police)
◾
Book and process incoming offenders (Police)
◾
Conduct daily audit of accounts payable log (Accounting)
◾
Detect and suppress urban, rural, and wildland fires (Fire)
◾
Respond to 9-1-1 calls and vehicular injuries [emergency medical service
(EMS)]
◾
Issue medications to tuberculosis/HIV patients (Health)
◾
Inspect and maintain water/wastewater system (Public works)
When listing MEFs, organizations first need to decide the frequency of how often
the function must be conducted (daily, weekly, monthly). Next, organizations need
to identify how many personnel it requires to complete the function as well as any
specialized resources it may require to complete (vehicles, tools, software, etc.).
