Governmental Preparedness

Almost all governments maintain a relatively universal set of systems and tools that address
the risk posed by natural, technological, and intentional hazards. Although each nation‘s
disaster management components and systems have developed independently and are rooted
in different histories, economic realities and other factors, vast institutional sharing between
governments has led to a growing organizational standardization of practices (SOPs),
protocols and equipment used by disaster organizations. Most of those good practices are
notably in the area of first response: fire departments, law enforcement agencies (police
departments), emergency management (civil protection) agencies, emergency medical
services, and the military. Although certain factors such as wealth, technical expertise, govern
in accordance with the specificity of the each country, governmental fundamental missions
are almost identical and their preparedness actions should be developed following the
common preparedness strategy.

The diverse range of government preparedness actions may be grouped into five general
categories, even though all of them must be covered by general planning activities:
 planning,
 resources and equipment,
 exercise,
 training and
 statutory authority.

Planning. The most comprehensive methodology used by the governments at every level
(from local to national) to plan for disasters is the creation of a community or national
Emergency Operation Plan (EOP). These plans can be scaled up or down depending on
event-specific disaster response and recovery requirements.
An EOP is a document that describes in intricate detail the people and agencies who will be
involved in the response to the emergencies/disasters and their responsibilities. It also
describes how citizens and structures will be protected in the event of a disaster. It may
catalog the equipment, facilities, and resources available within and outside the jurisdiction.
EOPs are also referred to as contingency plans, continuity of operations plans, emergency
response plans, and counter-disaster plans. They can also be created for individual entities,
such as schools, hospitals, prisons, and utilities facilities. The main purpose is to introduce
and describe various concepts and policies, clarify individual and agency responsibilities, and
delineate authority.

According to the preparedness strategy, EOPs should be develop as a generic preparedness

plans (―all hazards‖) or as a hazard‘s specific preparedness plan; single agency or multi-
agency; local, regional or national and/or as business continuity plans.
All-hazards plan approach is based on the premise of an organization‘s (service's) response to
the range of all potential major incidents. Single generic plan can provide a basic structured
response for any incident including chemicals, fuel, electricity, flooding etc.
Specific plans approach is designed to meet specific needs (risk specific, site specific or
organization‘s function specific). Multi-agency/integrated emergency plan aims to ensure that
the activities of all services/ organizations involved in managing a major incident operate in
an integrated manner.

Resources and equipment. The set of tools, technology, and other equipment to assist in
disaster response and recovery has helped response agencies to drastically reduce the
numbers of injuries and deaths and the amount of property damaged and destroyed as a result
of disaster events. This equipment has also increased the effectiveness of response agencies
by protecting the lives of the responders. Unfortunately, access to this equipment is driven
primarily by the resources available, so there exists great disparity throughout the world in
terms of who has what equipment. The equipment means to buy or to mobilize in case of
disasters, vehicles, communication equipment, equipment for medical care, personal
protective equipment etc.

Exercise. A major part of the preparedness in pursuit of response capability is a disaster

exercise regimen. Response exercises allow those involved in emergency and disaster
response, as defined in the EOP, to practice and validate their roles and responsibilities before
an actual event occurs. Exercises should be designed to engage team members and get them
working together to manage the response to a hypothetical incident.
Exercises enhance knowledge of plans, allow members to improve their own performance
and also help discover any unforeseen problems in the plan in a non-emergency situation.
Five kinds of exercises can be conducted in the name of emergency preparedness:
 Walkthroughs, workshops or orientation seminars,
 Tabletop exercise,
 Drill,
 Functional exercise, and
 Full-scale exercise.
Walkthroughs, workshops and orientation seminars are basic training for team members.
They are designed to familiarize team members with emergency response, business
continuity and crisis communications plans and their roles and responsibilities as defined in
the plans.
Tabletop exercises are discussion-based sessions where team members meet in an informal,
classroom setting to discuss their roles during an emergency and their responses to a
particular emergency situation. A facilitator guides participants through a discussion of one
or more scenarios.
A drill is a controlled, supervised method by which a single disaster management operation
or function is practiced or tested. Drills are most effective when they mimic reallife
situations. The tabletop exercise is designed to allow disaster management officials to
practice the full activation of the emergency response plan within the confines of a
controlled, low-stress discussion scenario, leaded by facilitator.
During the functional exercise are tested and practiced the capabilities of disaster managers
by simulating (in time depending manner) an event to which they must respond.
The full-scale exercise is a scenario-based event that seeks to create an atmosphere closely
mimicking an actual disaster. All players are required to act during a real event, as outlined in
the EOP, working in real time and using all of the required equipment and procedures.

Training. Training is the fourth component to government preparedness. It goes without

saying that disaster response officials are more effective if they are trained to do their jobs.
Disaster management and disaster preparedness training is not universally available. Even
though first-response officials, namely police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS),
are likely to have some basic standard of introductory training no matter where they are
located, the specialized instruction required for disaster response is much more technical.
Several nations have established centralized or regional training facilities/centers that provide
these skills. Some of them work on development and improvement of the teaching
capabilities using different approach. The most important specialized training modules that
aim to improve the skills primarily of fire, police, and EMS officials, include evacuation,
mass care, mass fatalities management, debris management, flood-fighting operations,
warning coordination, hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, radiological
response, crowd control, response to terrorist attacks, wildfire and wild land fire response.

Statutory authority. The final link in government emergency preparedness is the statutory
authority. Government response actions involve a diverse range of government officials and
agencies interacting with the public and businesses, and operating on public and private land.
There are often broad expenditures of funds, suspensions of normal government and private
activities, and other major deviations from ―normal. To ensure that all individuals and
agencies involved in the emergency management system are able to carry out their duties, it
is vitally important that the proper statutory authorities exist. Statutory authorities ensure that
emergency and disaster response agencies and functions are established, staffed, and receive
regular funding. Largely as a result of UN efforts, namely the Hyogo Framework for Action,
almost all countries have, at least in concept, created an office at the national government
level that manages emergency situations. The national government emergency management
agencies are the best places to provide emergency management priorities, standards,
direction, and goals to guide local emergency managers; provide training and expertise in the
field of emergency management; provide funding to support mitigation, preparedness,
response, and recovery; provide specialized assets, which could include hazardous materials
detection, containment, cleanup, and decontamination; heavy lifting and debris removal
equipment; and infrastructure repair teams and equipment.