Comparative Emergency Management

1. Comparative Emergency Management Session 21 Slide Deck Session 21

2. Session Objectives • Describe the Terms Command, Control, and Coordination in the Emergency Management Context • Present Several Incident Management Systems Used Throughout the World • Explain How Disaster Declarations Are Made Session 21

3. Command • Command = an authority to make someone or something do something • In EM, command = the authority to make someone or something do something in light of the response requirements that exist • Each task required in the response to a major disaster requires somebody or some agency to perform it • And for each, somebody to give the order • For somebody to give the order, there has to exist an established legal (statutory) or regulatory authority that instills the ability to do so Session 21

4. Control • Control isto command in that it refers to the power to direct or determine, or to manipulate • The term has a slightly different connotation in EM • Control = the limits of the command authority of the individual or agency being described. • May be referred to as ‘Span of Control’ • Command represents a vertical authority within an agency • Control represents the horizontal reach of an official or agency (with regards to authority, responsibility, and accountability) Session 21

5. Coordination • Coordination involves the mechanisms to ensure that the incident is handled in an appropriate manner such that all incident response requirements are met. • Command and control alone do not solve the problems associated with disaster incidents. • Agency / individual responsible for incident management needs a mechanism to guide or facilitate response tasks in an organized manner • Coordination = the cohesion of all disparate agencies and individuals working to bring about response and recovery of an incident Session 21

6. 2 Categories of Systems • Incident Command and Control Systems • Incident Coordination Systems Session 21

7. Effective Emergency Management When there exists: • Clear command authority • Common terminology among all responders • The ability for those in command to communicate • The ability for all responders to communicate with each other • A complete understanding of response requirements • All necessary supplies, staff, equipment, and resources • Ample trained staff • Established agreements • Systems to track and reimburse all expenses • A clear channel for communication between emergency management and the public Session 21

8. Effective Management System • Creates a common operating picture • Minimizes confusion • Operates under established and singular authority • Centralizes, manages, and accounts for resources • Is efficient • Addresses the needs of all stakeholders, including the public Session 21

9. Command and Control System Goals • Incident Command and Control Systems: • Considered ‘tactical level tools’ • Used to organize the process of completing tasks once it has been decided what should be done • Typically function by applying standard rules and authorities, according to an established organizational structure and hierarchy of responsibility and accountability, in order to carry out a prescribed group of response functions • Guided by policies that focus on enforcing authority relationships and on incident action planning • Allow for the flexibility to function under a range of different management structures and incident sizes Session 21

10. Typical C&C System Functions • Command • Logistics • Operations • Finance • Planning Session 21

11. Coordination Systems Ensure that efforts are utilized in a manner that is: • Cost-effective • Equitable • Informed • Synchronized Session 21

12. Coordination System Characteristics • Help agencies ensure that their efforts are not duplicative, nor do they leave areas devoid of needed coverage • Allow different agencies and organizations to pool their people, resources, and capabilities • Do not require any formal association between the agencies and organizations involved Session 21

13. Examples of Incident Command and Control Systems • The Incident Command System (ICS) • National Incident Management System (NIMS) • The Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS) • Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS) • The British Columbia Emergency Response Management System (BCERMS) • Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) Session 21

14. International Coordination Obstacles: • The host country government is unable to perform coordination • Responding agencies do not wish to adhere to coordination mechanisms set up by the host government • There is no host country government in place Session 21

15. International Disaster Stakeholders • Host government • NGOs • Private sector • Foreign governments • International organizations • International financial institutions Session 21

16. UNOCHA Participation as coordinator decreases the likelihood that: • The host government would fear that a foreign government staff might be commanding operations within their sovereign borders • The donor government fears that the host government might misuse or misappropriate donated goods • Humanitarian assistance is distributed in an inequitable manner based upon social or cultural biases or preferences • There is no common operating picture among all responding agencies and organizations Session 21

17. Disaster Declaration Mechanism by which governments acknowledge that response resources have become overwhelmed. Session 21