Emergency Planning

As the events of this week unfolded I thought that this week we should re-focus our efforts on other emergency planning that we may have to do in the weeks and months ahead.

If you already have a department wide emergency plan then that is fine, take it out, dust it off and train all department members in it's use. Attempt to reduce that entire three ring binder plan to usable checklist forms that will create meaningful actions.

Here are my thoughts and these items could be used to develop checksheets for your own department.

Create four levels of emergency. Preparation, Level I, II, III

Preparation Phase - This phase can be used in advance of an emergency severe storm, major situation in a mutual aid jurisdiction, or at any time an incident commander would determine.

Take those actions that relate to the infrastructure of the department.

Fuel for vehicles

Radios equipment tested and charged

Emergency generators tested.

Additional food resources and potable water for additional manpower to be retained on duty.

Emergency lighting and flashlights.

Security of the building and firehouses.

Establishing whereabouts and contact information on all of your personnel in the event of recall.

Conduct a briefing with other city agencies. Manager, council, police and DPW and water department.

Begin and maintain a written log of events.

Level I Emergency - This is at the early stages of an event if it allows a gradual build up.

Insure that all preparation activities have been conducted.

Review log of events and continue to maintain.

Call back manpower for any apparatus that may already be committed to support ongoing events.

Call back additional personnel to place reserve or additional equipment in place.

Review maps, charts diagrams of the affected area or incident.

Establish a forward command or if operating from a forward command, establish a fixed command post.

Coordinate and brief with other agencies on a regular appropriate established schedule of time as the incident warrants.

Review procedures for a levell II emergency.

Level II Emergency - Ongoing emergency that will require resources beyond the capabilities of your department. This will be an incident that would require local regional mutual assistance.

Insure all actions for a level I emergency have been completed

Review log of events and continue to maintain.

Identify local resources required.

Notify local emergency management director.

Make calls to set up the possible resources required.

Establish formal incident command structure Command, Planning, Operations, Logistics, Administration and Finance.

Continue to support field operations as necessary.

Level III Emergency - An emergency that is longer than 48 - 72 hours and will require the assistance of state and possibly federal authorities.

Insure all actions for a level I emergency have been completed

Review log of events and continue to maintain.

Brief all state officials on actions already completed.

Identify all resources already requested and ETA

Prepare for relief and rehabilitation of your own resources.

Support state and federal activities as needed.

The intent of the previous outline is simple. If you do not have a plan get one.

If you have a plan, update it and exercise it, and share it with your personnel.

If you have no plan, take these concepts listed above, expand each point in detail for your own department, make into checklist format and train your personnel in how to use it.

If you require more information about developing a plan for your department, use the form below and contact me.