Emergency Response Plan Paper

The most important aspect of the US emergency management system in preparing for, mitigating, and responding to man-made and natural disasters is the emergency response plan. Developing an emergency response plan is key to effectively respond to a disaster. Multiple agencies, public and private, will join forces during a man-made or natural disaster. Thus, having a plan that incorporates public and private sectors will eliminate confusion. An emergency response plan should identify leadership that is ongoing and roles of each agency or individual. The emergency response manager or homeland security manager will oversee prevention, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation strategies, as well as overall preparedness (FEMA, 2010). Establishing

COOP defined is an effort within business and government agencies that ensures the continued performance of essential functions during a wide range of potential emergencies (Live Response). The COOP model organizes activities from most important to least important. Resources for responding to a disaster could become limited or unavailable and thus, COOP emphasizes only essential activity is necessary and routine activities or operations are not as important. During a disaster it is crucial to be sure necessary resources are plentiful. COOP also places emphasis not only on responding to a disaster but making sure assets are protected (Live Response). Protecting assets ranging from heavy equipment to records, is equally as important as protecting victims and the environment. For example, if heavy equipment necessary to respond to a disaster is destroyed during a disaster than management must determine other ways to respond. When developing a plan for a disaster, it is important to identify a location to act as the central operating center. It is equally important to identify an alternate facility if the original facility is damaged in a disaster (Live Response). COOP can be utilized for disasters large and small. Offering guidance and providing steps to be taken during a disaster, incorporating COOP as an or with an emergency response plan can

A single emergency response plan can used for many disasters with only some adjustments to fit the needs of responding to a disaster. COOP is a model emergency response plan that communities can follow and or use to develop an emergency response plan. All emergency response plans should embody the objectives of COOP. Ensuring safety, continuing operations, protection of assets, minimizing damage, survival of leadership, and orderly response and recovery are objectives of COOP to incorporate in an emergency response plan (Live Response). A plan is not only the most important aspect of preparing for and responding to a disaster but in the aftermath of a disaster too. After a disaster, a community, responders, and agencies can be criticized for how the disaster was responded too overall. “If you do not plan carefully and things go wrong, you can expect to be criticized, and deservedly so (Newman & Clarke, 2008, p. 52).” Planning ahead will aid in effective response to a disaster and mitigate negative criticism after the response to a man-made disaster or natural