Goals and objective
In emergency preparedness, there are four main objectives to be considered while preparing the action plan. The first objective is to ensure that the resources for the mitigation process are available. The in charge personnel should ensure that there is adequate provision of resources in order to achieve the mitigation process. This entails organizing for technical experts required and interested members from the community affected (Godschalk, 2009).
The next objective is to assess the risks. This entails identification of characteristics and the prospective consequences that may be caused by the hazard. The effects of a particular hazard and how they may affect the community are the key issues to be considered, especially community assets (Godschalk, 2009).
Development of a mitigation plan is also vital. Through an understanding of the potential risks caused by a hazard, the affected community should determine priorities and minimization of undesirable effects. Through this, hazard mitigation strategy and implementation plan is developed. It is also essential under implementation to monitoring the progress when executing an emergency preparedness system (Godschalk, 2009).
Therefore, the objective is to develop a foresight of the risks, develop countermeasures that an aid in minimizing the situation. The process is a documentation of the procedures, people, communication and organizational structure and resources required for minimization of emergency impact (Godschalk, 2009).
Identification of cost-effective actions for reducing the risks and focusing of resources in the greatest risks expected to occur should be part of the main objectives. Since the program involves various partners, building of partnership for emergency preparedness is essential. The education and awareness of the risks should be increased while keeping in touch with the state and the officials (Godschalk, 2009).
Training and exercises
The hazards experienced in this area include drought, earthquake, flooding, extreme temperatures, tropical storm, and tornado and winter storm. Training and exercise are meant for the personnel that play roles in incident and emergency management. Individuals having any role to play in leadership should be trained in the right way. This is aimed at improving the situation. The private sectors and non-governmental organizations are to participate in NIMS training since they have a direct role in emergency preparedness. NIMS training focus on operational coordination and structure, the processes and the systems. There should be also discipline and agency specific expertise. Therefore, training exercise should be geared towards the responsibilities of each of the personnel in charge. There should be mentoring opportunities so that the less experienced have a chance to observe the actual incident. Stimulation of multiple commands is also vital (National Research Council & United States, 2003).
Therefore, standardization of policy, language design, methodology, conducting and evaluating exercises. Provision of self-sustaining capabilities is also essential during the process of preparing for a hazard. Provision of resources like guidance, policies to be incorporated into the process and the technology to be used is also essential when preparing for a hazard. Through such, expertise knowledge is maximized during the actual action implementation (United States, 2000).
Thus, the exercise has three main intentions which include the validation of the plan that has been put in place, development of competencies in the staff and practice for the roles and responsibilities that they are to carry out and the testing of the well-established processes and procedures. For training, emergency preparedness and emergency response are the key areas to be considered in preparedness for disaster (National Research Council & United States, 2003).
Training for emergency should be provided to all the personnel to be involved in the emergency plan implementation and also personnel playing a role recovery and response system. These individuals should be confident in any activity that they may carry out. Therefore, the training process should include the contents in the plan as decision making procedures and the individuals involved in making of decisions. The roles to be played by each of the experts involved in emergency plan implementation should be made clear during the training exercise. The key skills and the knowledge that is required for responding to a crisis are also essential for a successful implementation program (United States, 2000).
The frequency of training should be done as many times as possible, until the process is clear to all the individuals. If there is any doubt amongst the individuals under training, the whole training process should be re-done to the group until it is clear to all the personnel and experts involved in emergency preparedness. Thus, training should be done as frequent as possibly because, a hazard can happen at any time and in most instances very minimal warnings especially the natural hazards occurring. Training for natural hazards should be carried out more frequently as opposed to induced hazards. Therefore, flooding or earthquakes should be given more time for training since they are natural hazards and very difficult to handle in some situations (United States, 2000).
Evaluation of emergency preparedness system
Evaluation of emergency preparedness system can involve determination of resources available for the process. The resources should be adequate for the whole procedure in case of any risk. Gauging the level of trained individuals in the process of training can be used to evaluate emergency preparedness system (Valerius, Frank, & Bayer, 2013).
The trained individuals are resourceful to the whole system. Also to determine the level of preparedness, it is vital to consider all the policies and the partners to be involved through the process of evaluation. There should be ready help from the personnel in charge. The policies can be determined if they are applicable in the preparedness process. If the policies are effective after close examination, then the preparedness system should be ready for countering any effects that a hazard may cause. Evaluation of emergency preparedness system should have the right procedures to be carried out for any specific hazard. For example, preparedness for flooding may not be similar to temperatures rising. The plans intended for a particular hazard should be feasible in nature. The plans should be done in a systematic manner so that each plan is executed in the most appropriate manner. Therefore, development of effective policy system, proper plans and procedures are vital when preparing for a hazard risk management (Valerius, Frank & Bayer, 2013).
The frequency for the evaluation process of emergency preparedness system should be done after every process of training and exercise. Through this, it is possible to ensure that all the procedures are taken into account by the right personnel. The frequency should be tested fortnightly to ensure that the community is ever prepared to deal with any risk management issues that are linked to the proper functioning of the system (Valerius, Frank & Bayer, 2013).
Therefore, emergency preparedness system should be structured in the best way possible for the effective functioning of disaster preparedness unit. Through effective system, reduced loss of lives and assets during hazard occurrences can be reduced to a big margin.
Reference
Godschalk, D. R. (2009). Natural hazard mitigation: Recasting disaster policy and planning. Washington, DC [u.a.: Island Press.
National Research Council (U.S.)., & United States. (2003). Multiple hazard mitigation: Report of a workshop on mitigation strategies for communities prone to multiple natural hazards, July 6-8, 1983, Snowmass Colorado. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
United States. (2000). Planning for a sustainable future: The link between hazard mitigation and livability. Washington, D.C.: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Valerius, J., Frank, N., & Bayer, M. (2013). Becoming an urban planner: A guide to careers in planning and urban design. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
