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Are We Prepared?. What elected officials should know about Emergency Management!!. April 2006. By: Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department. Are We Prepared?. How did the Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department Score?
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Are We Prepared? What elected officials should know about Emergency Management!! April 2006 By: Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department
Are We Prepared? • How did the Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department Score? • South Carolina Emergency Management Department – State Assessment • What is the role of Spartanburg County Government? • What is the role of local Emergency Management? • What is your role before, during, and after a disaster?
What is the role of Spartanburg County Government? • The governing body of Spartanburg County shall operate in accordance with Regulation 58-1, Local Emergency Preparedness Standards, the Emergency Operating Plan (EOP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). • Spartanburg County shall be prepared to implement the EOP when an emergency occurs or at the direction of the Director of South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), or upon a declaration of a State of Emergency by the Governor. • The County government will support disaster operations of the municipalities with county resources only after all local resources have been used and/or are inadequate to handle the situation. All resources, including the military, made available to the county from outside agencies will be assigned tasks and functions by the county on a mission-type basis, but will remain under the direction and control of their parent organization. • Each county office, department, agency, service, etc., will coordinate as appropriate to assure efficient utilization of all resources made available to it. County government will also assume responsibility for direction of combined emergency operations in areas where municipal capability has broken down or does not exist, or when the nature or magnitude of a disaster is such that county government direction of operations is required for effective response.
State Assessment • SCEMD conducted a 49 page Assessment • Overall, Spartanburg County EMD received exemplary marks • Spartanburg County EMD has addressed the few weak areas noted in the assessment
What is the role of local emergency management? • To establish policies and procedures which will assure the maximum and most effective utilization of all resources in the county, minimize the loss of life and/or injury to the population, and protect and conserve the resources and facilities in Spartanburg County during emergencies resulting from natural disasters or man-induced technological hazards.
Your local emergency management agency • Who we are? And… • What we do for you
Your local Emergency Management Agency; we are…. • Required by law • Pursuant to Section 6 of Act 1553 of 1972 and Section 7 (3) and (4) of Act 112 of 1973, and any amendments thereto, the Emergency Preparedness Director is hereby designated and appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Spartanburg County Council, and other municipalities which shall adopt this Ordinance, for the purpose of preparing for and executing all duties and functions specified in all acts of the General Assembly relating to Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness…… All such elected and appointed officials and employees are hereby directed to comply with the orders, directives, and instructions of the Emergency Preparedness Director during periods of emergency or disaster, and in the preparation of disaster preparedness programs. • Diverse • Assignments • Size • Capabilities
Your local Emergency Management Agency; What we do for you……… • Educate the public • Assist with first responder training • Develop emergency response plans (evacuation, re-entry, EOP, EOC, etc) • Build Teams (LEPC, Donated Resource Group, Emergency Animal Response, etc) • Develop and maintain systems needed during time of crisis
Your local Emergency Management Agency; What we do for you……… • Provide 24/7 Emergency Response Capabilities • Maintain the Emergency Operations Center • Link you to mutual aid and regional, state, and federal assistance, if you run short of emergency resources • Provide Homeland Security Coordination and Planning
Your local Emergency Management Agency also…. • Coordinates State and Federal Grant Funds • Maintains a Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan for the entire County • Coordinates mitigation plans • Maintains and Coordinates the Spartanburg County Haz-Mat and Cobra Teams. • Maintains essential databases • Resources, volunteers, shelters, tier II facilities, chemical inventories, emergency contacts, marplot data, and more!!
Your local Emergency Management Agency also…. • Provides on-scene response coordination • Facilitates compliance with the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act • Is responsible for the Emergency Alert and Warning Systems • Conducts exercises to increase the efficiency of emergency response personnel
Political Fortunes… • Political Fortunes have been won or lost not only on the actual role played by elected officials, but also on the public’s perception of leadership
Disasters May… HINDER Careers or……. Benefit Careers Former Seattle Mayor Paul Schell Former NY Mayor Rudy “The Rock” Giuliani
Reflections… • On March 28, The Stranger's Josh Feit, Tim Keck, and Dan Savage sat down with then Mayor Schell at Cafe Septieme in Seattle. DAN SAVAGE: Name a mistake you've made and what you learned from it. PAUL SCHELL: Well, I think of the WTO. I mean, my values are intact about letting everybody be heard. JOSH FEIT: The mistake was what? You learned what? PAUL SCHELL: That we were not prepared for the worst…..
Your Roles and Responsibilities…….. ● Clearly define expectations and goals ● Understand risks and response capabilities ● Know the Emergency Operations Plan – and make sure everyone else knows the plan ● Ensure the plan is current and tested ● Support efforts to address plan gaps or deficiencies ● Maintain up-to-date lists to ensure Continuity of Government (COG) ● Review emergency ordinances to ensure they are adequate ● Visit your Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and participate in drills
Your Roles and Responsibilities…….. ● Know incident objectives ● Be knowledgeable about overall response ● Provide visible leadership ● Ensure appropriate management structures are in place ● Be sure your expectations are being met
Your Roles and Responsibilities…….. ● Consider the need for an emergency proclamation ● Review key messages ● Obtain briefings before meeting with the media ● Brief other elected officials ● Maintain a written log of all actions you take
Your Roles and Responsibilities…….. ● Continue to provide visible leadership ● Meet with impacted constituents ● Support your Recovery Plan ● Participate in after action reviews and critiques ● Support identified corrective actions
Final Comments Questions or Comments