What is Emergency Management?

B. Wayne Blancard wrote a “Think Piece” for an Emergency Management Round table Meeting on March 2007 for the FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI).  In particular I found how the question of “What is Emergency Management?” is not a simple answer. There are many misconceptions on what this job description entails and its relationship with the rest of the homeland security apparatus. I was surprised at these misconceptions.

I invite you to take a look, and if you have any role in selecting your emergency manager in your town, state, or business consider these principles:

Definition:  Emergency Management is the risk-based coordinated and collaborative integration of all relevant stakeholders into the four phases of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) related to natural, technological, and intentional hazards (All-Hazards). 

Mission:  To safeguard life and property from all-hazards, and to protect the environment and economy.

Principles:

1. Comprehensive Emergency Management (CEM).  CEM is the central organizing principle and definition of professional emergency management — all-hazards, all phases, all actors.   

1. Intergovernmental Structure.  Emergency Management is a shared responsibility of local, State, Tribal and Federal government.  Its framework is both top-down as well as bottom-up. Authorities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from hazards and disasters should be supervised by one official at each level of government.

1. Horizontal and Vertical Integration.  Integrated Emergency Management is best accomplished through the integration of emergency management principles and practice into the regular routine of a wide range of community, governmental and private sector organizations.

1. Building Disaster Resistant and Resilient Communities.  The First Aim of Emergency Management is creating a Culture of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness – recognizing that it is better to prevent or reduce impact of disasters through risk-based management approach than to respond and recover. 

1. Nationwide System of Effective Disaster Response and Recovery.  Recognizing that not all disasters can be prevented, the Second Aim of Emergency Management is to build a nationwide disaster Response and Recovery system.

1. Building//Maintaining Relationships.  Emergency Management is guided by the constant practice of Collaboration, Coordination, Customer-Service, Information-Sharing and Team Building.

1. All Disasters Are Different.  While there are many similarities in disaster events, it is a fundamental principle of emergency management that all disasters are different.  It necessarily follows that “one size fits all” approaches are inadequate and that such attributes as Flexibility, Innovation, and Improvisation must be practiced.

1. All Disasters Are Local First.  A recognition of this principle of emergency management drives the centrality of local Community Capability Building as the foundation of national preparedness.

1. Disasters Impact Differentially.  Some segments of communities and society experience disaster and suffer the consequences more than other segments, such as the economically disadvantaged, the disabled, and the institutionalized elderly.  Emergency management recognizes that its resources need to target high-risk and highly vulnerable segments of the population in order to increase their resilience and decrease their vulnerability.

1. Professionalism.  Emergency Management is a science and knowledge-based profession, valuing education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship, and continuous improvement.

Good Luck and Good Hunting