The Emergency Planing Arrangement - Essay Example

Student Name: Tutor: Title: The Emergency Planning Arrangement Course: The Emergency Planning Arrangement Introduction An emergency is circumstances or series of events which threaten or result in serious damage to human welfare, security or the environment. In the United Kingdom it is defined under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Some of these situations may include animal diseases, adverse weather, terrorist incidents, severe flooding and the effect of disruption on essential services as well as important infrastructure (Eyre, 2006). Response to emergencies need to adapt to circumstances at present while applying good practice like lessons drawn from previous emergencies and taking care of the United Kingdom’s constitutional settlement. Emergencies come unexpectedly and occur suddenly and catastrophically without any warning. Emergencies occur when they are least expected and way that are not anticipated. Various different agencies collectively contribute to emergency, and the response effectiveness is normally a reflection of how well prepared the team was. Public service organizations and emergency services have to work together in a coordinated manner (HM Treasury, 2005). Planning precedes everything when it comes to emergency response effectiveness. This paper explores the effectiveness of UKs emergency planning arrangement in the context that government departments are not included as category one responders. Discussion There are some characteristics that are considered crucial in the case of effective emergency response. Effective emergence response has to include subsidiarity, continuity, anticipation, co-operation, communication, integration, direction, and preparedness. Subsidiarity means that decisions have to be undertaken to the lowest level possible while coordination existing at the available highest level. Local responders have to be included in the building block of any magnitude. This amplifies the need to include the people from the immediate environment as being among the first responders in case of an emergency response. Continuity means that the emergencies have to be grounded in the functions of the existing organization and their usual ways of working (Cabinet Office, 2013). However, actions have to be accomplished with speed as well as on a higher magnitude in circumstances that are testing in case of an emergency incident. Preparedness means that organizations and individuals that are involved in emergencies response have to be fully prepared including having defined responsibilities and roles, general and specific plans, and trial response arrangement from time to time or after a given period. Integration involves exercising effective coordination within and between organizations, national and regional tiers of any response together with timely access to suitable guidance and appropriate support for the national, regional and local level. Direction refers to the clarity of purpose being delivered by means of awareness of strategic aims and appropriate supporting objectives for the response. These have to be agreed upon and interpreted by all stakeholders taking part in response incident for the purpose of effectively focusing and prioritizing the response (Jagelman, 2011). Cooperation refers to the positive engagement founded on mutual understanding and trust that facilitate gathering of information and delivering effective solutions to issues arising. Communication has to be two-way communication that is crucial to any response to be effective. Information that is reliable has to be passed accurately and without hesitation between those who need to be informed, including the general public (Toft & Reynolds, 2005). Victims or casualties in case of an emergency incident may be related to any one in one way or another. Anticipation requires that people have to look forward to any consequences of emergencies. Planners have to point out risks and understand the indirect and direct consequences in advance as much as possible. In many circumstances victims are the first responders in case of an emergency. While it is believed that victims are normally helpless, powerless, numb and appear passive-frozen, stunned or dazed, others report and show orderly and action-oriented behavior that is geared towards helping themselves and other people caught up in a similar situation. Experience demonstrates that victims are indeed the first responders during any disaster incident, prior to arrival of other people and emergency services. Literature on disaster confirm that initial rescue and search activity, casualty restoration and care services are established by the victims themselves, with the help of organizations and individuals from the immediate catchment area (Walker & Broderick, 2006). Narration of survivors from emergency events like terrorist attacks and natural disasters show how people take part in rescue or search activities, provide first aid, look for help or call others or their relatives for help. Some respond that apart from feeling frozen from the events that occurred, they are galvanized into action that is adaptive. There should be an assumption that people in disaster-impacted areas respond to emergency and will not for officials from communities around to inform them on what to do. In spite of the evidence demonstrated in regard to responsible and adaptive response to disaster, from time immemorial practitioners and researchers have different expectations and conceptions of the victims. The assertion that the U.K.s Emergency planning arrangements are flawed owing to the failure to make government department category one responders is not necessarily true owing to the above discussed on what consists of first responders in case of an emergency. The victims and the local area communities seem to be the first responders in case of any emergency owing to their proximity from the scene of the event (Wilkinson, 2007). Before any other emergency service providers come, they will always look for ways of trying to cool or help the survivors. Making government departments as category one responders does not improve the effectiveness of emergency responses. Plans need to be robust, flexible and realistic and meet all needs of the organization that have been assessed. The plans have to define where the responsibilities lie and what is expected of responders (Eyre, 2004). They have to define what resources and services that are required and how they can be accessed, authority of decision making and the manner of coordinating actions with other responding organizations. Foreseeable outcomes have to be established by measuring the plans against anticipated or known risks. The diagram below shows the participation of the government department in emergency response. As category one responder alongside the health sector and emergency services, the local authorities have role of providing what is normally referred to as normal services in abnormal circumstances. This may involve activities that are provided on daily basis such as putting up emergency rest centers. Category one responders include local authorities, emergency services, and national hospital service bodies. Category two responders are normally referred to as cooperating authorities and they include transport, utilities and the government. Looking at these categories, it is not a must for the government department to be classified as category one responders for effective emergency response to take place (Wilkinson, 2007). Government departments take the role of facilitating other service providers in case of an emergency incident. The government department has to be in continuous process of looking for ways of coping with consequences of disasters even before they strike. The government has to be proactive and protect its citizens using all means available. Emergency planning requires that all local authorities to institute plans that can effectively respond to an emergency incident within the borough effectively and within the shortest time possible. The community resilience programme has been launched to encourage communities and individuals to become better prepared in dealing with effects of emergencies. Online resources have been provided to this effect (Bune, 2003). Emergency preparedness is very important regardless of the category of responders. The objective is to ensure that people in an emergency situation have been attended to within the shortest time possible. Civil protection is a general term that encompasses all activities that are undertaken by organizations in an effort to protect the population and its environment in case of man-made or natural risks and to come up with a coordinated, effective response in case of any emergency. Civil protection has to be an integral part of actions of both public and commercial service organizations, which are specifically identified as being emergency responders. Both first category responders and second category responders have to work in cooperation with the sole goal of ensuring civil protection (Cabinet Office, 2004). Making government department to be category one responders will not improve the situation if there is no preparedness and planning required dealing with disasters. Phases of emergency response Management of any emergency responses involves preparation, response and recovery. The response phase comprises of consequence management and crisis management. These are designed to minimize and control the immediate challenges as a result of the emergency incident. Crisis management is the part of response phase that tries to avert or prevent an imminent emergency together with protective or other measures that are formed in mitigating its effects, prevent further disruption or damage and secure the scene of the incident (Cabinet Office, 2013). It also comprises of actions taken in order to address the immediate effects of an emergency incident like fighting fires, managing hostage situations, rescue and search, offering public health advice, disseminating public information and evacuating those at risk in the immediate environment. The period of the crisis management phase will vary from a few hours to months later depending on the kind of disasters that is being dealt with. Consequences management normally takes place at the same place as crisis management and involves steps taken to prevent the impact of an emergency from rising. It comprises of management of wider services and consequences like restoring electricity supplies or transport networks, being in charge of community relationships, and offering shelter to persons who are displaced. Consequence management is also referred to as impact management. The recovery stage or phase commences officially one the situation has been contained or stabilized. Recovery phase preparation has to be an important part of the process of emergency management in the begging stages of response (Toft & Reynolds, 2005). Recovery can be performed at the national, regional, or local level depending on the magnitude of the disaster. It is normally a process of restoring, rebuilding and rehabilitating the community following the events of an emergency. The recovery process takes a long time as compared to the response phase since it is designed to support the communities affected in the reconstruction of the physical infrastructure as well as restoration of social, emotional, physical and economic well-being. In the United Kingdom the local responders make up the basic building block of the response to any emergency incident in the United Kingdom. Major incidents or emergencies are particularly handled by emergency services alongside local responders without the possibility of involving the central government. Emergencies may include industrial accidents, localized flooding and major road crashes. The police take the leading role in coordination of the local response in the event of a crime being committed, or there is imminent threat to the safety of the public (Walker & Broderick, 2006). The local multi-agency response is organized by a strategic coordination group found in the strategic coordination centre. The principle of subsidiarity focuses on the importance of supporting local decision making, where necessary, but with coordination from the higher level. Government departments have to work alongside local responders in order to ensure effective emergency response. The central government involvement will be determined by the magnitude of the emergency incident. Levels of emergency There are different types of categorization of emergencies that have been identified. Significant emergency possess a wider focus and needs the support or involvement of the central government using a lead government department together with local authorities, the emergency services and other organizations. This emergency may include weather-related problems. The involvement of government departments is not necessarily a recipe for success in case of an emergency incident. The second level of emergency is referred to as serious emergency level (Cabinet Office, 2013). This category threatens a wide or prolonged impact that need sustained coordination from the central government and support from various agencies and departments, normally including regional tier in England and where applicable, the devolved institutions. These emergencies include serious outbreak of animal diseases like the H1N1 swine flu, widespread urban flooding, a terrorist attack, or any emergency overseas that has the potential of significantly affecting the UK interest or nationals. The 7th July London bombings fall in this category. The third level is referred to as catastrophic emergency. This level has high and potentially wide-spreading impact and need immediate central government support impact and direction, like a major natural disaster such as the Chernobyl-scale industrial incident. Features include top-down response in situations where the local response has been helpless, or the application of emergency powers was needed to direct the response or requisitions of resources and assets. The United Kingdom has not experienced level 3 emergency but preparedness can help to avert loss of life in case of such an incident (Cabinet Office, 2013). Chernobyl industrial accident occurred in Russian and many people lost their lives to emissions of poisonous gases that the local community could not respond to because they did not have the necessary equipments and resources. Conclusion The level of emergency incidents can define the involvement of the central government or government department in response to such incidents. The failure to make government departments category one responders does not affect the effectiveness of the response as long as there is careful planning and preparedness. The effectiveness of the United Kingdom emergency planning cannot be affected by the fact that government departments are not among category one responders. It has been noted that victims and the local communities are the first responders in case of any disaster. The local authorities and agencies have the capacity to deal with many disasters that do not require the involvement of the central government. Departments of the government cannot be involved in virtual all response to disasters regardless of the magnitude of the disaster. Catastrophic emergency is one that requires the immediate involvement of the central government and its departments. The levels of emergency are the ones that define the involvement of the central government. All agencies involved in emergency response have a main goal of civil protection. Preparedness and preparation have to be considered to be important in case of an emergency rather than the categorization of the responders. Government department can provide facilitation of services that involve emergency response. Many agencies and emergency service providers are involved in the event of an emergency incident. The level of preparedness and planning determines the success of emergency response in the United Kingdom regardless of the categorization of the responders. The government has to provide logistic support to emergency service providers and agencies. References Bune, K., 2003, Family Assistance Centers, NCJA Policy and Practice Series, Spring 2003, NCJA, Washington. Cabinet Office, 2013, Responding to emergencies: The UK central government response, London. Cabinet Office, 2004, Civil Contingencies Act: Emergency Response and Recovery, Non-statutory guidance to complement ‘Emergency Preparedness’, HM Government. Eyre, A., 2006, Identifying people’s needs in major emergencies and best practice in humanitarian response, Department of Culture, Media and Sport, London. Eyre A., 2004., ‘Psycho-Social Aspects of Disaster Recovery: Practical Implications for Disaster Managers’ in Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 19 (4). HM Treasury, 2005, Managing Risks to the Public: Appraisal Guidance. London: HMSO. Jagelman, K., 2011, A guide to emergency planning arrangements in Northern Ireland, Civil Contingencies Policy Branch. Toft, B & Reynolds, S., 2005, Learning From Disasters: a Management Approach. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Walker, C. & Broderick, J., 2006, The Civil Contingencies Act 2004: Risk, Resilience and the Law in the United Kingdom, Oxford: OUP. Wilkinson, P., 2007, Homeland Security in the UK: Future Preparedness for Terrorist Attack since 9/11, Routledge, London. Read More