The 10 Steps towards a successful Emergency Management Program

The evolution of how we prepare for, respond to and recover from human or natural caused disasters has taken place by incorporating our experiences from events throughout the world. While many emergency situations are unavoidable, countermeasures can be developed to prevent loss of life, minimize damage, ensure continuity of operations and lead to a rapid recovery.  While we continue to learn from recent events, the following 10 steps can provide a road map toward a reliable emergency management program.

Emergency Management and Public Safety Planning

1. Hazard Analysis – conduct an analysis of all threats within your jurisdiction service areas and identify vulnerabilities currently within your organization.
2. Plan – develop custom plans tailored to your organization.
3. Equipment – identify and secure equipment and supplies necessary for effective response and rapid recovery from any event.
4. Training – provide basic training for all personnel and specialized training for essential services.
5. Drills and Exercises – conduct regular drills and response exercises to prepare all personnel and update all standard operating procedures.
6. Response – respond to actual incidents and events using proven field management systems supported by state of the art emergency operations centers.
7. Recovery – continue essential services and operations while implementing your recovery plan, maintain crisis communications with your primary constituents.
8. Evaluation – Conduct post disaster reviews and analysis to identify short falls and areas in need of improvement.
9. Mitigation – identify and invest in programs that will ensure your organization becoming more disaster resilient.
10. Update and Refresh – incorporate lessons learned by updating and refreshing all plans, procedures and programs while continuing to strengthen your organization.

The Renteria Group – Professionals With Real Life Experience

Our team members have all responded to major disasters and bring certified skills and real life experience with events ranging from major earthquakes, fires, floods, hazardous materials and terrorism.

Services we provide:

Crisis Communications and Media Relations regarding the 1991 Oakland Hills, California Firestorm.

• Forensic Analysis – We can conduct a thorough and complete audit of your emergency management programs.  We can identify the hazards and vulnerabilities that can disrupt your organization.
• Emergency Plans, Standard Operating Procedures and Checklists – Develop custom designed planning documents for your organization including standard operating procedures and quick reference check lists for all essential personnel.
• Continuity of Government – All agencies, departments and programs must continue to provide essential services and Government cannot cease to function. All services must resume as quickly as possible.
• Continuity of Operations – All business functions and customer care must continue if a business is to survive. Revenue flow for all businesses is essential. Back up systems must be in place for services to continue and resume as soon as possible
• Equipment and Supplies – Identify the tools necessary for response to an incident and increase your ability to survive and recover. Know what vendors, local suppliers and providers are available to rapidly execute mutual aid. Contract service agreements need to be in place before an event happens.
• Training and Exercises – We can custom design programs to train your employees in response and recovery.  We can provide all levels of training including table tops, functional and full scale exercises.
• Disaster Recovery and Mitigation – Skilled disaster recovery specialists to assist you in recovery efforts and identify mitigation projects.
• Citizen Preparedness and Response (CERT) – Before the paramedics, firefighters or police officers arrive, the typical first responders are your co-workers or neighbors. Basic citizen preparedness training can provide a cadre of helpers that can help with injured victims and damage assessment.
• Vulnerable populations – Identify your population with special needs and develop plans, guidelines and secure resources to assist in alerting, evacuation and sheltering.
• Legislation – Our team of government trained officials can review existing or proposed legislation.
• Media Relations and Crisis Communications – It is essential to have procedures in place to help manage the media inquiries and press conferences as well as emergency communications for your employees and/or customers.
• Emergency Operations Centers – Central command and control centers are essential for effective management of emergency operations. Our teams of professionals have experience in designing and constructing state of the art Emergency Operations Centers.
• Incident Management Systems – Our training specialists are certified to conduct training in Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) and Hospital Incident Command System (HICS).
• Public Speaking and Presentations – Professional speakers available to share their experiences dealing with natural or human caused events.

Emergency Management Questions

Are your current plans, policies and procedures designed to answer the following questions? If you are a CEO, Head of Government, or in charge of emergency operations, you need to have a system in place that can answer these questions and provide you with the information you need to make efficient and responsible decisions.

The 25 questions every CEO must be prepared to ask and every emergency manager must be able to answer:

1. What is the emergency?
2. When did it occur?
3. Where did it occur?
4. What was the cause?
5. What population has been affected?
6. How are they affected
7. How long will they be affected?
8. How many dead?
9. How many injured?
10. How many missing?
11. What is the extent and cost of the damage?
12. What is the current impact on government/business operations?
13. How did we learn of the incident?
14. When did we respond?
15. Who is in field command?
16. What has been accomplished so far?
17. What is the status of field response?
18. What is the long term situation?
19. What is the short term situation?
20. Has mutual aid been requested?
21. What are the emergency public information requirements?
22. What is the short term plan?
23. What is the long term plan?
24. What executive actions or decisions are needed?
25. What is our briefing schedule?

Images:
Scenes of destruction from major earthquake and urban firestorm.

Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Training

Emergency Preparedness and Management Training

Our group of subject matter experts is prepared to review all existing plans, policies and procedures in order to identify needed updates and possible shortfalls.

Custom designed training in the form of Full Scale, Functional or Table Top Exercises will prepare all designated staff.

We can provide a comprehensive hazard and threat analysis in compliance to local, state and federal guidelines.