Emergency Response Plan - Assignment Example

Emergency Plan Executive summary The events that take place after a disaster strikes are very critical and collectively refer to as emergency response. For example, a quick warning to occupants to vacate a building can save many lives. Therefore, it is necessary to develop good emergency response plan that will help in minimizing the effects of the disaster. Firstly, the emergency response planning begins with the assessment of potential risks thus highlighting the emergency scenarios. In this case, the response team seeks to understand what can happen and can estimate the amount of resources needed to handle the situation. After assessment, the planning process proceeds to the course of actions necessary to attain the performance objectives. Therefore, the essay aims at developing an emergency response plan that can help disaster situations particularly natural disasters. Nonetheless, the paper will elaborate how to implement the plan by demonstration a response procedure for natural disasters especially massive storms like the hurricanes. An overview of the emergency plan The particular emergency response plan intends to guide facility managers as well administrators in planning the necessary requirements for protecting employees or occupants of a particular building. The response plan is generic implying that it can be useful to large facilities as well as buildings that may be at higher risk of natural disasters or manmade disasters like terrorism. The underlying assumption with the emergency response plan is that adequate response is achievable through proper coordination, participation, and cooperation of individuals, groups and the community as a whole (Abbott, 2012). Therefore, the facility staff and the community groups combine to form an extremely effective emergency response plan. An overview of the emergency response plan is never complete without acknowledgment of the role it plays in mitigating risks. The emergency plan of this facility, will, therefore, aim at providing operational guidelines as well as overarching principles for coordinating and effectively responding to emergencies that befall staff, facilities and residents. The plan intends to address the possible emergencies scenarios that the staff can manage or require coordinated efforts of disaster response groups like agencies and organizations. The purpose of this program is to ensure that the emergency response is always efficient so as to manage the disasters. Conversely, the program aims at minimizing potential risks or danger to the individuals, staff, residents, visitors, and volunteers. Nonetheless, the purpose of this program is to ensure that all operations are in a state of continuity so as to effectively mitigate the risks. Moreover, an emergency response plan is never complete without clear objectives (Gandy et al., 2014). In this case, the response plan primarily aims at providing directions and outlining processes that are necessary for managing personnel, facilities, equipment and all resources during the emergency. Besides, the plan aims at minimizing the potential impacts of the disaster through maintenance of operational standards in readiness, preparedness, and awareness of the emergency situation. Though least important, the plan aims at laying the foundation for developing training programs relating to emergency response management. The report in particular strives to develop an emergency response plan for severe storms or thunderstorms as one of the frequent disaster situations. Damages that tropical storms and tornadoes leave on the facilities they strike are enough to call for a detailed emergency response plan that can help in mitigating immediate and residual effects of such natural disasters. Stormy winds can travel as far as 100mph and this has potential for damages while thunderstorms bring with them rain and lightning that equally pose imminent danger to the occupants of the facility (Lwin, Yen, & Shen, 2013). In some cases, storms can be strong and develop into hurricanes that have devastating effects on the facility. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an emergency response plan for mitigating the effects of storms especially hurricanes. The emergency Management Elements One of the elements of emergency response plan is the intended purpose of the proposal, or the general statement (Ludík, & Ráček, 2011). thus , the main objective of the emergency response plan is to help in mitigating effects of storms or hurricanes as natural disasters. Conversely , the plan aims at helping the organization with efficient management of their emergency situations. Another element is the identification and description of the situation that involves estimating the magnitude of the damage it leaves in the facility or the surrounding environment. Nonetheless, it is imperative to consider the operational concepts, or the approach that the team will develop towards the emergency situation (Abbott, 2012). Operations involve what should be done, when and the direction that commands come from. Administration and logistics are also an important element of the emergency response plan. In this case, the plan must identify the available services as well as support that are necessary for the emergency situation. Other important elements are the authorities or references which indicate the legal basis that the emergency operations as well as activities stem from. Emergency response plan for storms (Hurricane) The response plan begins with gathering information on the potential threat that always warnings from relevant Oceanographic and the Atmospheric Administration (Abbott, 2012). Other sources of information include mainstream media like radios and TV stations. The sources of information provide necessary warnings about the potential threats, and they exist in the sources as tornado watch and warning, hurricane warning, tropical storm warning and watch and severe thunderstorm watch or warning. The next step in emergency planning process is preparation or evaluation of the whole situation (Abbott, 2012). In this case, the response team should evaluate the facility to identify its ability to withstand strong winds and storms. Preparation stage also identifies or designates appropriate internal protective areas in the facility. However, this proposed plan put much emphasis on efficient protection of all the hazardous areas since they pose imminent danger to the occupants. The emergency response plan also identifies the level of awareness and preparedness of the staff in handling emergency situations (Abbott, 2012). The aim is to train the staff in identifying the signs of severe storms where the individuals get to know how to use communication and warning systems. The preparation stage also identifies available evacuation routes. The final stage in emergency response planning is the response itself. The first response after identifying the warning signs of the storm is advising the staff to evacuate to safer shelters. A point to note is that the sound of the disaster alarm must be distinguishable from other alarms (Gandy et al., 2014). It is also imperative to keep the residents or staff away from glassed areas of the facility when the storms are severe like in the case of hurricanes. If the disaster happens very soon that there is limited time for seeking shelter, advice occupants to go to safer places but away from windows. Direction and control Direction and control come from the leader of the response team though staff and the community can also help with such responsibilities (Abbott, 2012). The facility manager coordinates all activities of the emergency response plan. The manager also coordinates external emergency response like the municipality support. In this case, the plan must be compatible with the Emergency Operations Plan of the municipality (Gandy et al., 2014). The manager also acts as a leader who directs and controls the response team. Besides, professional staff of the facility takes part in control and coordination of the plan since they participate in the development stages of the emergency response plan. They also provide leadership to the confined groups and help in encouraging occupants to develop confidence. Control and coordination also come from the facility maintenance personnel who inspects the building and reports any defects (Gandy et al., 2014). On the other hand, the maintenance personnel also instruct the staff on how equipment like fire extinguishers operates. Food service personnel within the facility also coordinate feeding programs and ensure that the victims get energy they need to survive the situation. Finally, the community is very crucial in coordination and control. The community is a good resource for warning, information, educational materials, and resources (Abbott, 2012). Community help comes from municipal government, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, and fire departments. Assistance can also come from individuals, churches, organizations, and civic clubs, industries and businesses and hospitals among others. Communications Communication is a very crucial consideration in emergency response plan since the aim should be to provide the right and necessary information to the target groups (Abbott, 2012). There are many systems that can help in communication during disaster situations including telephone networks, cable, and broadcast television, satellite systems and now, the internet (Ludík, & Ráček, 2011). In this case, the emergency response team must identify the most appropriate mode of communication. For instance, the plan must identify how 911 is effective in such situations and if telephone communication can help families of the victims to reach their people and vice versa. Life safety There are certain proactive actions that help in ensuring safety of the residents namely evacuation, sheltering, Shelter-In-Place and Lockdown (Abbott, 2012). Immediate evacuation of the residents requires a proper warning system that reaches all occupants of the building. The response team should test if the alarms are operational and must pay keen attention to available exits. There should be an evacuation leader who makes sure that all the residents leave the premise in time. Sheltering is also important, and the evacuation leader should direct the residents to safer and stronger parts of the building. Besides, there should be a detailed evaluation of the shelters and the in charge must assess if there is enough space to hold all the employees (Gandy et al., 2014). Property protection Property protection aims at safeguarding equipment as well as vital records that are important in restoring the situation after the emergency (Gandy et al., 2014). In this case, property protection will involve shutting down the equipment that can get damaged under water or completely covering them away from the storm. It is imperative to move equipment to safer locations. There is also need to check protection systems in the facility; they should have functional alert systems. Property protection also aims at mitigating effects of the disaster, for example, the installation of storm shutters to minimize effects of the storm. Community outreach The relation between the facility and the community is crucial in handling the emergency situation. The proposed plan will, therefore, involve the community through dialog. The community is large including first responders, community leaders, utilizes and community organizations (Abbott, 2012). Therefore, the emergency response plan incorporates hospitals, Red Cross, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and emergency medical services. Engagement with the community also entails proper public relations especially with the media. Recovery and restoration Recovery and restoration aim at revamping the situation to normal or the original state when the business was running (Abbott, 2012). When planning for response, there should always be clear contractual agreements where the management contracts vendors to do post-emergency services like preserving the records. The aim is also to restore operations through equipment repair and replacement. There are also plans for ensuring management continuity through maintenance of the chains of command. Insurance services join the response activities in this stage to help with the recovery of the facility. Nonetheless, there are incentives for employee support through cash advances, care packages, and salary continuation. The final stage is the full operation of the facility where normalcy resumes after the disaster (Gandy et al., 2014). Administration and logistics Administrative actions before the emergency will include establishment of the written and well-documented emergency management plan as well as maintenance of the written communications (Abbott, 2012). Other actions include involvement of community response organizations in all planning activities. Administrative actions that will take place during and after the disaster will include maintenance of the telephone logs and documentation of all events (Gandy et al., 2014). Other actions include managing finances, press briefings, accounting for the staff and coordination of all services. Before the emergency, logistics will entail equipment acquisition, stockpiling of supplies, designating all emergency facilities, establishment aid agreements, and preparation of resource inventory (Caunhye, Nie, & Pokharel, 2012). During the emergency, logistics will include provision of utility maps and safety materials and repairing parts. Other logistics include planning for medical support, transportation, and food. Moreover, there will be a backup communication and the plan also has incentives for sheltering the victims. References Abbott, A. A. (2012). Emergency Response Plan. ACSMs Health & Fitness Journal, 16(5), 33-36. Caunhye, A. M., Nie, X., & Pokharel, S. (2012). Optimization models in emergency logistics: A literature review. Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, 46(1), 4-13. Gandy, S., Kern, K., Norton, J., & Toth, A. (2014). Emergency Disaster Preparedness and Response. OLA Quarterly, 14(4), 1. Ludík, T., & Ráček, J. (2011). Process methodology for emergency management. In Environmental Software Systems. Frameworks of eEnvironment (pp. 302-309). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Lwin, M. M., Yen, W. P., & Shen, J. J. (2013). Effects of Hurricane Katrina on the Performance of US Highway Bridges. Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, 28(1), 40-48. Read More