Emergency Management for Elected Officials

1. For
Elected
Officials
Created by J. E. McDermott, Emergency Manager

3. Director, Department of Homeland Security
“It makes more sense to be
prepared for an emergency
than trying to explain why
you were not prepared.”
“It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.”
Jackie Joyner-Kersee

7. 'Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.' –
Irving Fisher (1929)
'We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out' - Decca
record executive on the Beatles
'There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.' - Ken
Olson, 1977, Digital Equipment Corporation
'Everything that can be invented has been invented.- - 1899, Charles
Duell, U.S. Office of Patents.

8. Browns Valley Flood
Ham Lake Fire
I35 W Bridge Collapse
Drought (Benton CTY. +)
Southeastern MN Flooding

9. Mitigation
Recovery
Emergency
Management
Response
Preparedness

11. 












Agricultural Disasters
Civil Disorder
Dam Failure
Fire
Hazardous Materials Incidents
National Security Event
Natural Disaster
Public Utilities Failure
Public Health Event
Radiological Event
School Crisis Event
Terrorism
Transportation Accident

12. Natural Disasters
Tornado
Hurricane
Earthquake
Severe Thunderstorm
Flood
Infestations
Disease (SARS, Influenza)

13.  Who
needs what?
 IS-100
Introduction to Incident Command System (ICS)
 IS-200
ICS for Single Resource and Initial Action Incidents
 IS-700
National Incident Management System (NIMS)– An Introduction
 IS-300
Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents
 IS-400
Advanced ICS
 IS-800
National Response Plan – An Introduction

14. Operations
Planning
Command
Logistics
Finance

15. Incident Commander
Public Information
Officer
Liaison
Officer
Safety
Officer
Operations Section
Resources
Unit
Demob.
Unit
Service
Branch
Support
Branch
Doc.
Unit
Commun.
Unit
Supply
Unit
Medical
Unit
Divisions
Air Ops
Branch
Logistics Section
Situation
Unit
Branches
Planning Section
Facilities
Unit
Food
Unit
Ground
Support Unit
Groups
Strike Team
Task Force
Single Resource
Finance/Admin.
Section
Time
Unit
Compensation
Claims Unit
Procurement
Unit
Cost
Unit

16.  What
is an EOC?
 Purpose
 Functions
 When is it activated?
 Staffing

17. The Official Definition:
An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a
central location which enables government to coordinate
policy decisions, resource management, and response
to disasters and emergencies beyond the scope of an
On-Scene Incident Commander.

18. The Real Definition:
The EOC is where uncomfortable officials meet
in unaccustomed surroundings to play unfamiliar
roles making unpopular decisions in much too
little time.

19. The On Scene Commander (OSC/IC) manages the trees.
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) manages the forest.

20. TO:
…manage the overall disaster
…assist people
…reduce the devastating consequences rather
than add to them
…start the recovery process
…return the community to normal

21. Receive
Information
Synchronize
Resources
Integrate
Resources
Analyze
Information
Distribute
Information

22.  When
the On Scene Commander no
longer can control the incident with the
resources available.
Or
 Multiple
incidents exist that stretches the
limit of the first responders.

24. Command
Finance
Logistics
Operations
Planning

29. 











Notification & Warning
Direction & Control
Emergency Public Information
Search & Rescue
Health & Medical
Evacuation, Traffic Control & Security
Fire Protection
Damage Assessment
Congregate Care
Debris Clearance
Utilities Restoration
Radiological/Hazardous Materials Protection

30.  Emergency
Services
 Medical
 Assembly
Areas
 Transportation
 Supplies
 Communications
 Media
 Individuals
 Equipment
 Service Agencies
 Community Groups

31.  Responsible
for overall management,
coordination, and decision making in the
EOC
 Has ultimate say in the decision making
process.
 Manages by providing overall direction.
 Cannot be a “Micro Manager”
 Responsible for coordination of all EOC
activities and ensuring proper staffing of
the EOC

32.  Keep
elected officials informed on event
status.
 Approve requests for additional resources.
 Determine role of EOC.
 Establish immediate priorities
 Coordinate with key people and agencies.
 Authorize release of information to the
news media.

33.  Activate
the EOC and assign staffing
levels.
 Determine agencies needed at the EOC
 Establish goals & objectives
 Develop or approve appropriate strategies
 Implement Operations, Planning, Logistics,
and Finance/Administration as needed.

35. No Planes

39.  Be
Informed
 Exercise Leadership
 Take care of Personal Requirements
 Establish Legal Contacts
 Maintain Political Awareness
 Keep the Public Informed

40. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities
Be Informed
Know your emergency operations plan and procedures
Receive initial incident assessments and on-going updates
Receive on-going status briefings from incident command site; resources
committed and required; coordination with outside jurisdictions and media

41. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities
Exercise Leadership
Exercise leadership and policy decision-making over the emergency response organization.
Maintain personal log.
Direct staff to assess and report on problems, resource short falls, and policy needs and options.
Chair assessment meetings.
Issue Emergency declarations as needed.
Ensure staff maintains logs.
Maintain liaison with other elected officials.

42. Leaders are like eagles. We don’t have either of them here.

43. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities
Take Care of Personal Requirements
Let family know where you are.
Take medications, toiletries and clothes as needed.
Take list of peers and contact numbers.
Remember: Your role is policy-making, not operational.

44. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities
Establish Legal Contacts
Establish contact with legal advisors.
Review legal responsibilities and authorities.
Monitor equity of service based on needs and risks.
Review status of contract with suppliers of emergency goods or services.

45. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities
Maintain Political Awareness
Recognize personal accountability for actions and decisions.
Check provisions for updating other public officials.
Evaluate policy decisions throughout the incident.
Confer with other elected officials on difficult issues.
Use elected officials to circumvent unresponsive normal channels.

46. Chief Elected Official
Functions and Responsibilities

48.  Stay
out of the EOC and let the people
trained to handle an emergency do it.

49.  Take
care of your own family.
 Use
all of your political muscle to get the
things the EOC tells you that they need.
 Reassure
you constituents that everything
that can be done is being done.

50.  Does
Your local Government Plan meet
the requirements?

51. Definition of COGContinuity of Government
Continuity of
Government is
defined as the
preservation,
maintenance, or
reconstitution of the
civil government's
ability carry out its
constitutional
responsibilities.

52. If there is no continuity of
government...
there is no continuity of
operations…
there is no emergency
management…
there is no emergency
response...
there is no
disaster recovery

53. 









Minnesota Duty Officer
Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
(MNVOAD)
Additional State Assistance Programs
Reassessment of Homestead Property Damaged by
Disaster
Calamity Act
Disaster Assistance for The Repair of State-aid Roads
and Streets
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Statewide Mutual Aid
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact

54.  Comes
after Governor declares a State of
Disaster for region.
A
multitude of Federal Services and
Agencies become available.

55.  Where
from?
does the authority and power come

56.  Statutory
Authority comes from
Minnesota State Statutes 2006
Chapter 12 – Emergency Management
 Any
local Ordinance/resolution of
County/City

57. Minnesota State Statute – Chapter 12
Political subdivisions will have an
emergency management organization;
and each such organization must have a
director appointed by the governing
body.

58. Minnesota State Statute – Chapter 12
“…county organizations shall… plan for the
emergency operations of county government
in cooperation with the county attorney…and
with other appropriate county government
officials and private sector representatives.”

59. Local Emergency Declaration
 Can
be declared by mayor of a city or
chair of a county board for three days,
unless extended by the governing body.
 County
Board declares emergencies for
townships.

60. Emergency Powers
 Activates
state or local plan.
 Authorizes aid and assistance.
 May require individual services or use of
equipment/resources (to save life and
property).
 Expedites delivery of services without
normal legal/contractual restraints.

61.  Federal
• FEMA
 State
• DHSEM
 Training
Conferences
• Annual Governor's Conference
• Annual AMEM Conference

62. Refer to Manual

66. An Emergency Operations Plan?
How often is it updated?
A trained EOC staff?
Do they have backups?
A Continuity of Operations Plan?
Is it reviewed every 6 months?
A list of resources available?
If yes, do you know where they are?
If no, what are you doing about it?