NU Online News Service, April 8, 1:08 p.m. EDT
The Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), said it has released a revised and updated version of "Characteristics of Effective Emergency Management Organizational Structures."
The book, PERI said, is designed to help emergency managers understand the responsibilities inherent in their jobs, while providing information regarding the expectations citizens have for local government.
Fairfax, Va.-based PERI is a nonprofit research institute focused on risk management training and education.
"Characteristics of Effective Emergency Management Organizational Structures" supplies a detailed checklist that can be completed by the emergency manager to help answer the question: How prepared is your community to respond to a disaster?
The checklist was designed to allow the chief administrative officer to quickly determine the capabilities of the local emergency management organization and to identify areas that have the potential for improvement.
After completing the checklist, the characteristics are described further.
The 20 characteristics described in this publication are as follows:
o Defined roles of elected officials.
o Strong and definitive lines of command.
o Similar routine/disaster organizational structures.
o Emergency management procedures are as close to routine operational procedures as possible.
o Good interpersonal relationships.
o Emergency management planning is an ongoing activity.
o All hazard approach.
o Disaster prevention and mitigation.
o Motivation provided for involvement in the emergency management program.
o Citizen involvement.
o Strong coordination among participating agencies.
o Public/private cooperation.
o Multiple use of resources.
o Public information function clearly defined.
o Ongoing monitoring for potential disasters.
o Internal alerting procedures.
o Ability to alert the public maximized.
o Active intergovernmental coordination.
o Ability to maintain comprehensive records during a disaster.
o Eligibility for state and federal subsidies considered.
PERI said the publication is a valuable tool that will help emergency managers and chief administrative officers by providing clear guidance and realistic advice about how an effective emergency management organization is constructed.
"Characteristics of Effective Emergency Management Organizational Structures" costs $30 and is available in the PERI Bookstore. More details are online at www.riskinstitute.org/bookstore. www.riskinstitute.org.
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