Local E.M.A.

The emergency management concept evolved from the post World War II "Civil Defense" program. The "Civil Defense" program dealt principally with disaster preparedness. Emergency management goes further to include mitigation, response and recovery as part of an integrated program.

Mitigation refers to activities that eliminate or reduce the negative effects of a disaster. Preparedness is planning how you will respond to various emergencies and the resources you will need to get the job done. Response is the actual reaction to an emergency and recovery is the act of returning to a normal or near normal status.

The responsibility for effective emergency management starts with the family. Every family should have adequate insurance to protect their assets. They should also have a written plan identifying potential emergencies, protective actions, meeting places, evacuation & relocation sites, emergency supplies and important telephone numbers. Unfortunately some apathetic families don't take any steps to protect themselves or their property from the adverse affects of emergencies and disasters. They feel that government is there to pick up the tab for their losses. These people usually end up very disappointed.

The following is an example of how your local government participates in the four phases of emergency management:

Mitigation

• land use management
• zoning ordinances
• building codes
• safety codes
• insuring public assets

Preparedness

• appoint a local EMA coordinator
• assist in building a local EMA program
• provide support for a local EMA program
• provide support for public safety departments
• identify potential vulnerabilities
• prepare and adopt an emergency operations plan
• have mutual aid agreements in place

Response

• activate their emergency operations plan
• mobilize EMA and their public safety departments
• mobilize municipal and volunteer resources

Recovery

• participate in damage assessment
• provide county EMA the information they need to secure disaster declarations. " debris clearance " reopen roads
• return government to normal operation ASAP
• coordinate the assistance for displaced residents

Making EMA Work In Your Community

The appointment of a coordinator and the development of a local EMA program is the responsibility of your elected officials, but for a program to really work the local residents must participate.

Residents must be willing to donate either their time, talents or the use of some of their possessions for the common good or be prepared to pay more in taxes if they expect government to provide all emergency services.

Ways in which residents could participate during an emergency:

• answer phones and relay messages during a disaster emergency
• trained volunteers are needed for local damage assessment teams
• monitor a local rain or stream gauge when flooding is possible
• if you own a van or bus you could provide transportation during an evacuation
• four wheelers and snowmobilers are a valuable resource during severe snow storms
• front end loaders or bull dozers could be used to move earth in order to protect waterways from pollution during fuel spills

Call your local municipal building and let your EMA Coordinator know what service or resource you could provide your community.