An employee complains of chest pains. A delivery truck backs
into the gas meter, and a strong odor of gas invades the building. A
“suspicious” package is found in the unattended lobby. Gunfire erupts in the
shop area, and coworkers are fleeing. A severe thunderstorm warning has been
issued following an earlier tornado watch. Blocks away a group of protesters is
growing larger. The power goes out on a bitterly cold day. Water is leaking
through the ceiling of the server room.
Who is going to act? What actions should be taken to
safeguard life and protect property? How quickly can they react? How
effectively can they act? The actions taken in the critical initial minutes of
an emergency often dictate the outcome.
An emergency operations plan that is risk-based, makes best
use of available internal and external resources, and is executable by an
organization with defined roles and responsibilities is essential.
Objectives, Priorities & Resources
The number one priority of emergency operations is to
safeguard life. Other objectives include protection of property, the environment,
and the organization’s reputation. Continuity of business operations benefits
from effective emergency operations.
Priorities for emergency operations become apparent when
conducting a risk assessment. Threats and hazards with high probability of occurrence
or potential for significant impacts should be high on the list. The increasing
frequency and severity of civil unrest, active shooter incidents, wildland
fire, power outages, and severe weather warrants the need for enhanced
planning.
Often overlooked when considering objectives and priorities
is the availability and capabilities of internal and external resources. Are
sufficient personnel with the required knowledge, skills, and abilities
available during operational hours to respond to foreseeable threats? Are
facilities protected with detection, alerting, warning, suppression, and life
safety systems that have been designed, installed, and maintained in accordance
with national standards? What are the capabilities of public emergency services,
their knowledge of the facility and its hazards, and their response times?
Answers to these questions will identify resource limitations that must be
overcome for effective response to emergencies.
Planning for Emergencies
The emergency operations plan is a product of a process that
includes understanding risk, the availability and capabilities of resources,
and applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements. The risk assessment
identifies threats and hazards that require protective actions. The resource
needs assessment identifies the required personnel, competencies, systems,
equipment, and supplies for response to the identified risks. The assessment
also evaluates the availability and capabilities of resources and identifies
limitations that must be overcome. Minimum requirements for emergency response
are established by applicable Federal and state health, safety, and
environmental regulations, state and local fire codes, and accreditation
requirements (e.g., Joint Commission for health care facilities).
Together, the risk assessment, resource needs assessment,
regulations, and accreditation requirements inform decisions about the
functions of incident management teams and the actions they will take.
Download the Preparedness Bulletin "Emergency Operations Plans" to learn more about:
- Planning committee
- Regulations & standards
- Risk assessment & impact analysis
- Incident management team
- Alerting, warning, and communications
- Incident management facilities
- Emergency operations plan
- Concept of operations
- Incident management system
- Protective actions for life safety
- Threat or hazard-specific tactical plans
- Crisis communications
- Implementation, maintenance & continuous improvement
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