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IN THE NEWS... May 22, 2008 - Preparedness for the 'Day After' Oct 25, 2007 - WebEOC Used to Support Emergency Response Efforts in Southern California Sep 28, 2007 - EmerGeo Engaged in National Disaster Simulation Project FEATURE ARTICLE Mar 12, 2008 - B.C. Hydro puts threat risk assessment software to the test |
Preparedness for the “Day After”Infogram 19-08 In recent years, millions of dollars have been spent to improve the capabilities of Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies to prevent, protect, respond, and recover from man-made and natural disasters. Despite these expenditures and endeavors, research by the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) concludes that the best strategy for mitigating the effects of all hazards is to develop and maintain resilient organizational critical infrastructures. It is interesting to note that this strategy mainly resulted from the honest admission that many disasters cannot be prevented. Resilience is usually thought of in terms of the ability to quickly bounce back after a major disruption or catastrophic attack with an earlier restoration of fundamental services. But why is a resilient ESS department or agency infrastructure so important? The U.S. Government recognizes ESS critical infrastructures are indispensable for the safety and health of the American people as well as the stability and security of the nation’s economy. Without the availability of ESS mission-essential tasks on the “day after,” there will be a serious reduction in “quality of life,” which is further exacerbated by the discontinuation of other local infrastructures that depend on emergency services for survival. Considering the importance of ESS organizations, there is growing acceptance at local levels that enhancing ESS resilience must be an essential part of disaster preparedness. More elected officials and the chief officers of their emergency services understand the necessity for first responder organizations to withstand a catastrophe and return to normal operations as rapidly as possible in an all-hazards environment. Instead of focusing only on preventing attacks by nature and terrorists, increasing numbers of local leaders are attempting to alter or prepare their infrastructure systems to endure all hazards and successfully reconstitute standard services no later than the “day after.” To assist ESS departments and agencies that haven’t fully considered the benefits of resilient infrastructures, the EMR-ISAC offers the insights promulgated in “Foreign Affairs” by Stephen E. Flynn. He wrote that resiliency results when the following four factors are continuously achieved:
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