The Emergency Management Plan - Case Study Example

?THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN Severe Weather Plan In case of severe weather such as thunderstorms, lightning, tornadoes, high winds, hurricanes, etc., special radio monitors tuned to the National Weather Service, located in incident command posts (ICPs) such as Director’s office, Police Office, Emergency Manager’s, Fire Department, Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC’s), and in the Safety Office, will be activated to receive official weather advisories. The National Weather Service, through a Geographic Information System (GIS), can estimate the areas that can be hit by severe weather and inform the appropriate ICPs (US Fire Administration, 2011). In turn, the Director’s office shall contact the Gulf Coast health care system Chairperson for Emergency Planning (EP) which is responsible for coordinating Gulf Coast health care system Emergency Operations and support using members of the Emergency Management Committee (EMC) and the Emergency Operation Center (EOC). In addition, it should contact health care systems in other areas to inform them of possible relocation to their site. The GIS should be able to help identify the locations that are both near and safe for relocation (US Fire Administration, 2011). During a widespread disaster, deployment of multiple ICPs allows the situation to be handled by knowledgeable and adept respondents. For example, criminal situations are handled by the police, injuries are attended to by medical personnel, and fire or threat to property are responded by the fire department (Leander ISD, 2011). Each facility should have their own emergency management plan acting as an independent ICP. The EOC, in turn, should have a detailed description of each facility uploaded to its GIS (US Fire Administration, 2011). This facilitates the EOC decide on which particular facilities need quick assistance based on what the facility possesses and what the emergency calls for. For example, after receiving information from the Director’s office, the hospital must implement developed plans to ready the facility once storm comes. Through its commander, the hospital director, a certain group of personnel is to stay indoors unless otherwise directed. This facility has determined to be self-sustainment for a minimum of 96-hours without community assistance. While the hospital staff and other affected facility stay indoors, the EOC should get a list of supplies available to the possibly relocated individuals from the Nuitrition and Food Service of the staff that can be deployed before disaster strikes. Beforehand, this should be stored close to an area usually hit by disasters, as determined through GIS, for easy access and transfer (US Fire Administration, 2011). If an evacuation order is received from the Director’s office, the EOC will initiate relocation of patients and personnel. ICPs, in turn, should provide daily situation reports during and after disaster. Once the disaster is over, the EOC, through the ICPs, should initiate recovery by returning to functional facilities and building new infrastructures. For example, the police is in charge of maintaining community safety and protection of limited supplies. Aside from radio communications, the EOC will also establish an ICP to maintain a website for staff, patients, and family members to receive information before, during, and after the storm through the Internet. The use of the Internet has been a common alternative form of communication during disaster (University of Texas, 2012). However, since telephone, radio and Internet may be out of service during such situations efficient transfer of information through verbal communication and wtitten memo is necessary (GOI-UNDP, 2011). Training for the efficient means to communicate through these means is needed. Bomb Threat Plan Preparation from such threat shall also include training of personnel to record exact wording of a threat, a caller’s indecisive or contradictory answers to questions asked, and the caller’s voice description, which will aid the Director in assessing validity of a threat. The training should include organization of these information into an agreed upon format to facilitate and quicken communication. When a bomb threat has been received, the Chief of Police Service should be informed immediately. The Police Service, in turn, shall immediately notify the Director’s office. In addition, they are tasked to gather all information concerning the threat and to conduct investigations, as appropriate, under the direction of the Chief of Police. The Director should also assemble a control group to facilitate the following steps in response to the threat. This group, through GIS, should determine the possible extend of damage and should deploy the necessary emergency personnel to respond to the situation (US Fire Administration, 2011). Any significant findings should then be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While the police has not yet arrived, the staff in the area receiving the threat will act as initial ICP searching the area and noting unusual packages. Findings should be reported to the police. However, radios, cellular phones and pagers should not be used in such cases to prevent activation of radio-controlled bomb devices. Full search, or decisions to evacuate specified areas, may be deferred by the Director pending the outcome of the investigation. If caller indicates area in which bomb is located, this area shall receive immediate attention. Public areas such as lobbies, toilets, stairwells, canteens, etc., shall be thoroughly searched as well as equipment rooms, elevator shafts, fire closets, light fixtures with easily removable panels and false ceilings. Full search should be conducted by a properly trained personnel. Additional ICPs tasked to search the whole vicinity may be employed to hasten the resolution of the bomb threat. In a hospital, ICPs may be set up in the ward areas and clinical areas, manned by trained head nurse, ward staff, secretaries, and clerks who are familiar with the area. Upon discovery of an unusual device, package or parcel in an area, the control group should be informed. Area occupants are transferred to a safer area and questioned about knowledge of the object. If object cannot be identified after a reasonable and prompt area inquiry has been made, the Director will be notified that the object has been declared suspect. Doors to the room containing the suspect package shall be locked. The Polce or Army should be called upon to handle the situation. Master keys, area plans, drawings, and other assistance shall be provided to them as requested. Evacuation and turning off of utilities may be conducted as directed. In addition, the control group shall notify the local fire department dispatcher without sounding the fire alarm. References GOI-UNDP. (2011). Ghaziabad City Disaster Management Plan. Retrieved from http://mitigation.eeri.org/wp-content/uploads/City-Disaster-Management-Plan-of-Ghaziabad.pdf. Leander Integrated School District (ISD). (2011). Leander ISD Multi-Hazards Emergency Plan Summary. Retrieved from http://www.leanderisd.org/users/0001/docs/EmergencyPlan.pdf University of Texas. (2012). Information Technology Services Disaster Recovery Drill. Retrieved from http://www.utexas.edu/its/news/032012/its-disaster-recovery-drill.php US Fire Administration. (2011). GIS for Emergency Services. Infogram 45-11. Retrieved from http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/infograms/45_11.pdf Read More