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A Framework for
Integrated Emergency Management
David McLoughlin, Federal Emergency Management Agency
In an average year in the United States, floods willState. The role of the state emergency management
cause $2 billion to $3 billion in damage. Tornadoes agency
will is similar in many ways to that of the local agen-
leave over 100 people dead. Fires will kill more than cy. For example, it must have an effective organization
6,000. These emergencies occur regularly and others andare develop and maintain necessary plans, facilities,
waiting to happen. These are 9,000 high hazard dams and
in equipment. On a day-to-day basis, it must manage
the country. Four billion tons of hazardous materials an active, ongoing emergency management program at
move through the transportation system each year. both state and local levels.
Thirty-nine states are at risk from earthquakes and 22 Most states have a single agency that takes "lead"
metropolitan areas from hurricanes. The issue is not responsibility for emergency preparedness and response
whether governments will be required to respond activities.
to The nature of these agencies and their lines of
emergencies but rather when and how frequently. The authority vary, but they fall into one of five general
time to think about emergencies is before they happen.types of state organizations. Authority in all cases is
This article provides a way of thinking about emer- legislated to the governor but is operated in (1) the exec-
gencies and what to do about them. utive office, or delegated (2) to a civilian department,
(3) to the adjutant general, (4) to the state police, or (5)
The Role of Governments to a council which oversees departmental activities.
in Emergency Management The state, however, has additional emergency respon-
sibilities not shared by local government. It is in a
All levels of government-local, state, and federal- unique position to gauge the emergency management
are involved in emergency management. While some needs of its political subdivisions, assess its own and
emergency responsibilities and functions are common to federal government resources, and facilitate the acquisi-
all three, each level of government also has its own tion and application of these resources. State govern-
unique responsibilities and resources. ment also gives direct guidance and assistance to local
Local. When a disaster strikes, it does so in one or jurisdictions in program development and channels
more local jurisdictions. Local government has the first federal guidance and assistance to communities. In a
line of official public responsibility. State and federal major emergency the state office ensures a coordinated
governments can be counted on for major support only response through the combined efforts of local, state,
when the damage has been unusually widespread and and federal agencies and private sector organizations.
severe. Local governments, therefore, have to develop Like local jurisdictions, states also have frequently
and maintain a program of emergency management to limited their disaster roles to the preparedness and re-
meet their responsibilities to provide for the protection sponse phases of emergency management.
and safety of the public. The local emergency manage- Federal. Extensive resources exist throughout the
ment agency supports this effort by working with the federal government to help state and local governments
departments of local government and private sector in emergency management. Federal Emergency Man-
organizations to develop emergency plans and capabili- agement Agency (FEMA) supports their emergency
ties that can respond to any natural or man-made management efforts by providing national program
hazard which threatens the community. Local emer- policy and guidance, as well as technical and financial
gency management responsibility is typically placed assistance. The agency's 10 regional offices provide the
either in an agency that reports to a mayor or city vital link in supporting state and local activities. In the
manager, or in an existing department such as police, event of a major disaster, FEMA is ready to provide
fire, or public safety. Traditionally, local emergency assistance when the demand exceeds the capacity of
managers have focused principally on preparedness and state and local resources to respond and recover. FEMA
response. During an actual emergency they act in a staff
capacity to the highest local official with responsibility
to assure coordination among governmental and non- David McLoughlin is the deputy associate director for State and Local
governmental forces and among higher and adjacent Programs and Support of the Federal Emergency Management Agen-
governments. cy (FEMA).
FIGURE 1
WHITE HOUSE
(1958 1961)
r
. .
I
OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE
1
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PLANNING
(OCD) (1961 1972)
(OEP IN WHITE HOUSE) (1961- 968)
I
| " DEFENSE CIVIL PREPAREDNESS AGENCY
OFFICE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
( DCPA) 1972 1978)
,OEP IN EXECUTIVE OFFICE nF THE PRESIDEN TI L- I
1968 1973
G. S. A. | H. U. D.
I I
I
#3 FEDERAL PREPAREDNESS AGENCY I
(FPA IN GSA) (1975 1978)
I
I
I
I
I
(FEMA) 1979
A A
A A
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
recovery, significant opportunities for community plan-its occurrence. Second, they can change the way a
ning to reduce future emergency impacts are frequently hazard interacts with people and their support systems.
available. The relationship of these mitigation effortsThird,
to they can alter the way people live and the systems
the IEMS framework is outlined in Figure 3. they create.
Mitigation. Mitigation consists of planned and order- The definition of mitigation recognizes that virtually
ly efforts to prevent hazards that are preventableevery and emergency-related action "mitigates" the crisis if
lessen the impact of those that are not. Mitigationthe ac-definition of "to lessen" is employed. But some im-
tivities can act in three ways to prevent or reduce effects
portant distinctions between mitigation and the other
of potential hazards. First, they can act on the hazardcomponents
to of emergency management do exist. For
eliminate it or to reduce the frequency and intensity example,
of there are differences between the type of skills
FIGURE 4
necessary for local government or state officials to (CPG 1-103). When used in conjunction with
Planning
carry out mitigation and recovery (an emphasisthe on
hazards analysis and capability assessment results,
policy, political, and fund-raisiftg skills) and those use-
these plans should convince key officials of the need for
ful for preparedness and response (decision making, improvements. They will also present a logical, realistic
communication, and direction and control skills). schedule for the projects and activities that should be
Another important distinction lies in the long-term given priority over the next five years.
nature of mitigation. It is not only directed to the next Annual Development Increment. With the multi-year
disaster but to all future disasters. It is not only a development plan serving as a framework for building
response to a past disaster but an active search for ways increased capability, the details of what is going to be
to prevent or reduce impacts of future ones. Finally, it is done each year must be determined. Situations change
not a technique employed on only a few types of each year and perhaps more or less was accomplished
hazards, but rather one which applies to all types. than planned in the preceding year. These factors
The design and implementation of a hazard mitiga- should be reflected in modifications to the multi-year
tion strategy requires technical capability, resources, development plan and in deciding on the annual incre-
and the cooperative efforts of a number of diverse ment. Through this process, emergency program man-
groups. These groups include planners and local operat- agers can develop detailed descriptions of what they
ing departments, and private sector groups such as lend- plan to accomplish in the coming year and their require-
ing institutions. They need to devote attention and ments for financial and technical assistance in support
resources to all hazards even though the requirements of these efforts.
may be significant. Future savings in reduced destruc- Federal, State, and Local Resources. Governments
tion can be cost-effective even without considering the are expected to contribute financially to capability
primary benefits from reductions in injuries and deaths. development and maintenance efforts. Some activities
While many targets of opportunity will be present identified in the annual increment may be accomplished
after a disaster, an effective mitigation strategy should solely with local resources, while others may require
begin as soon as the hazards analysis is completed and state or federal support, or both. The federal govern-
should focus on a set of deliberate, well-reasoned policy ment provides policy and procedural guidance, financial
decisions based on a long-term view. Over time, the aid, technical support, and staff resources to assist state
cumulative effect of many mitigation actions, even if in- and local governments in developing and maintaining
dividually they are small, can make a significant impact capability. Whatever the source of funding and other
on the degree of risk faced by a community. However, support, each project and activity should be a building
in relating mitigation to capability improvement, few block in the jurisdiction's overall capability improve-
communities have adequate resources to meet all poten- ment program.
tial emergencies. The deficiencies can be determined Annual Work Increment. As capability improvement
from the capability assessment previously described. projects and activities are completed, these improve-
This assessment is made against a set of standards ments will be reflected in the capability assessment and a
developed from past disaster experience. The identifieddecreasing capability shortfall as the results of the
shortfall is the primary input to any capability improve- process are reviewed each year. The additional resources
ment. It provides the specifics of what additional that can be committed to the emergency operations plan
resources are needed. The relationship of the various should cause a revision and updating of the plan. The
capability improvement activities is illustrated in Figure multi-year plan should also be modified to reflect the
4. changes in resources and the experience gained during
Capability Shortfall. The shortfall between current exercises and actual emergency operations.
capability and optimum capability represents the critical
gap that every community has to bridge if it wants an
adequate emergency management program. The areas
that do not measure up to the assessment standards IEMS in Summary
should receive primary consideration when the com-
munity's multi-year development plan is prepared. IEMS stresses an integrated approach to management
Multi- Year Development Plan. Based on the capabil- of emergencies across the full spectrum, including
ity shortfall, the community should prepare a multi-year natural and man-made disasters. There is a set of com-
development plan tailored to meet its unique situation mon operational functions across this emergency spec-
and requirements. The plan should outline what needs trum, such as evacuation, direction and control, emer-
to be done to reach the desired level of capability. Ideal- gency support services, and provision for other critical
ly, this plan should cover a five-year period so that long- resources. IEMS stresses the elements common to
term development projects can be properly scheduled disasters, while at the same time recognizing elem
and adequately funded. The plan should include all unique to specific types of emergencies. IEMS re
emergency management projects and activities to be nizes that while response to emergencies is the ce
undertaken by the jurisdiction regardless of the funding focus during a disaster, mitigation activities to re
source. A recommended format for the plan is available the degree of risk, preparedness activities to increase
in the FEMA publication, Multi-Year Development capability to respond, and recovery activities require
Notes