Garden County Nebraska

GardenCoNe.com

Oshkosh, Lewellen, Lisco

Larry J. Collins
Region 21 Emergency Management
Serving Kimball - Cheyenne - Deuel - Garden - Morril Counties
1000 10th Avenue
P.O. Box 217
Sidney, NE 69162
PHONE: (308) 254-7003

The Emergency Manager coordinates with the State of Nebraska and Federal agencies at the time of a disaster. The manager also helps find and coordinate grants for Fire Departments, Rescue Squads, Law Enforcement, hospitals and cities.

Roles and Responsibilities.

The Position of local Emergency Manager, as designated by the local Chief Elected Official(s), is responsible for the coordination of all the components of the emergency management system in the local jurisdiction. The local Emergency Manager is the jurisdiction's primary point of contact and liaison with the State and Federal personnel and agencies responsible for providing emergency management services.

The principal role of the Emergency Manager is to coordinate with Local, State, and Federal government agencies/departments as well as volunteer and private sectors activities supporting emergency management, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery issues affecting the local jurisdiction and its citizens.

Duties of office

The Emergency Manager coordinates with the State of Nebraska and Federal agencies at the time of a disaster. The manager also helps find and coordinate grants for Fire Departments, Rescue Squads, Law Enforcement, hospitals and cities.

The Four Phases of Emergency Management

The Comprehensive Emergency Management Program is divided into four separate but related phases. These are:

1. Mitigation:.

Mitigation is any action "determined to be cost-effective which substantially reduces the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area affected by a major disaster" (Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended, Sec 404). Proactive mitigation (to reduce the likelihood or lessen the potential effects of disasters) programs include flood plain management, fire prevention, building codes and development of structural standards, land-use regulations and advocacy with urban planning and zoning commissions to factor emergency management considerations into community design. Reactive mitigation (to reduce effects base on past experience) programs include flood insurance, disaster preparedness improvement grants, and development of predictive models of damage based on past experience. Mitigation is the foundation of an all hazards, risk-based emergency management program. It saves lives, reduces property damage, and helps to preserve the economy in the disaster area, thus reducing disaster assistance costs.

2. Preparedness:

Preparedness is planning how to respond should an emergency or disaster occur, and working to increase resources and the ability to respond effectively. Preparedness involves actions that will improve the speed and coordination of the response to an emergency or disaster. Planning, forming emergency organizations, training and exercising are all preparedness activities. Emergency management assists state and local government agencies and private sector organizations to develop plans for natural disasters such ass floods or winter storms and technological emergencies such as hazardous materials incidents. Public awareness and information outreach programs that change seasonal focus throughout the year are significant campaigns by state and local emergency management agencies. Disaster preparedness exercises, ranging from tabletop activities to full-scale simulations of disaster situations involving several counties, responder organizations, elected officials and others should be conducted to assure that proposed plans and coordination activities will work. Additional preparedness activities ensure that effective communication systems, operating facilities, and specialized equipment are in place to support emergency response and recovery operations. Communication and/or urgent information to the public are vitally important in an emergency. Local and state emergency management officials working with regional radio, television and print media coordinate these efforts.

3. Response:

Response actions cover the period of time shortly before, during and after a disaster, during which activities are conducted to save lives and minimize damage. Activation of the local and State Emergency Operations Centers (EOC's), search and rescue, and reception and care of disaster victims are some of the response actions. During this period, emergency coordination functions are generally carried out in the local and State EOC's. The EOC houses representatives of each department and organization involved in response activities in order to ensure cohesive response to the situation and to ensure the public is given concise, meaningful and timely information regarding the disaster.

4. Recovery:

Recovery is that period when the immediate threat to life and property has passed, and cleanup, repair and restoration activities become a priority. This stage will continue until all life support systems are returned to normal or near-normal operations. Debris clearance, damage assessment, and reconstruction are some recovery measures. Local, State and Federal damage assessment teams, as the situation dictates, may survey damaged areas. The local emergency manager is generally expected to work closely with the teams to ensure swift completion of the assessment process. On-site Disasters Centers may be established within affected communities. These centers provide a convenient place for victims to meet with representatives who can help solve problems.

Major Management Tools

• Hazard Analysis and Vulnerability Assessments
• Capability Assessments
• Local Emergency Operations Plan
• Standard Operating Guides or Procedures
• Training Sessions
• Emergency Management Exercises

Utilizing the Integrated Emergency Management System (IEMS) To Achieve CEMP:

IEMS was developed by FEMA in the early 1980's to improve the nation's capability to respond to major emergencies and disasters. "Integrated Functions" stressed by IEMS include:

• Integrations of "all hazards" into disaster planning and management activities.
• Activities related to disaster management, planning, and responses are integrated into the daily work activities of all departments, agencies, and organizations that respond to or support disaster activities.
• All appropriate personnel from the participating public, private, and volunteer agencies/organizations are included in the disaster planning and management process.
• The four phases of CEMP are integrated into disaster planning and management activities.

IEMS recognizes that no single agency can, by itself, respond effectively to a disaster. Organizing, planning, responding to, and recovering from a disaster requires teamwork (public, private, volunteer).

Key Points:

• CEMP is the strategy; IEMS provides the tactics.
• IEMS is built on the concept that there is a common set of emergency functions planned for and utilized regardless of disaster type.