Emergency Management Strategies

This week we released new guidelines for emergency managers with strategies on how to put people first. This is a result of our robust new work at FEMA to advance community engagement to strengthen all aspects of our mission. This is an exciting result of direction from FEMA Administrator Criswell and efforts of so many amazing teams across the agency. I’m so extremely proud of this work. Bold and effective leadership is putting people first and checking assumptions on what you know, how you think, and what you’ve always done before, and what might have worked before (or not) to solve problems and help people. We will continue to experience the consequences of our climate crisis and other risks that threaten all aspects of American life, yet we will only successfully navigate what comes next as we put people at the forefront of our decisions and actions. For the first time, our guidance here includes community specific snapshots on specific populations like older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, people living in rural areas and so many others. These snapshots offer state, local, territorial and Tribal governments specific and tangible information and insights on the intersection of disasters and the needs and opportunities associated with various community groups. This is how we tap into the potential of community to also lead through disaster! Checkout this first of its kind guide for emergency managers with proven tools, tips, and approaches to help prioritize people (and THEIR needs and unique circumstances) which must be at the center of how we help our communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from all risks https://lnkd.in/e5xw6NWX

Emergencies are unavoidable—fires, floods, shootings, cyberattacks. The only thing worse than an emergency is being unprepared for it. Just ask yesterday's "Worst Employer" nominee. A well-crafted Emergency Action Plan (EAP) keeps everyone safe and your business running. Here's 10 things to consider in creating one: 1./ Assess Your Risks Identify the emergencies most likely to hit you—whether natural disasters, workplace violence, or data breaches. Prioritize based on impact and likelihood. 2./ Get Employee Input Your employees are on the front lines and often spot risks management misses. Including their insights builds a better plan and fosters buy-in. 3./ Assign Clear Responsibilities Who calls 911? Who initiates evacuations? Everyone should know their role before an emergency strikes to avoid confusion in the heat of the moment. 4./ Map Out Evacuation Plans Chart exits, evacuation routes, and assembly points. Make sure everyone can evacuate safely, including employees with disabilities. 5./ Establish Communication Channels Use multiple methods—emails, texts, and phone trees. Keep clients, vendors, and other stakeholders informed, too. 6./ Stock Emergency Supplies First-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and flashlights are must-haves. Regularly check supplies so nothing fails in a real emergency. 7./ Plan for Business Continuity Know which processes must keep running and how to do it—whether remote work, cloud backups, or backup vendors. 8./ Stay Compliant Verify if OSHA or other laws require specific elements in your plan. Non-compliance can mean fines. 9./ Train, Drill, and Support Your Team Hold regular drills, offer training refreshers, and provide mental health support after stressful events. 10./ Debrief, Report, and Improve After every emergency or drill, debrief with your team. File necessary incident reports for OSHA or insurance. Assign someone to review and update the plan regularly. Emergencies aren't predictable, but your preparation should be. A well-thought-out EAP protects your people and helps your business bounce back as quickly and easily as possible.

When disaster strikes, every second counts. Traditional emergency response relies on human coordination, which can be overwhelmed in rapidly evolving situations. But what if we could empower responders with intelligence that predicts, adapts, and guides decisions in real-time? AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it's a critical tool enhancing emergency management today. From predicting wildfire spread in Australia's bushfire seasons to optimizing evacuation routes during floods in Pakistan, AI-powered solutions are transforming how we react to crises. How AI is revolutionizing emergency response: Predictive Analytics: AI models analyze vast datasets to forecast disaster trajectories, allowing for earlier warnings and more precise resource deployment. Real-time Decision Support: Algorithms can process live sensor data, social media feeds, and weather patterns to provide commanders with actionable insights, optimizing resource allocation and saving critical time. Automated Communication: AI can rapidly disseminate hyperlocal alerts, translate urgent messages, and even manage initial public inquiries, ensuring communities receive vital information swiftly. Optimized Logistics: AI can identify the fastest routes for emergency vehicles, manage supply chains for relief efforts, and prioritize aid distribution based on real-time needs. This integration of artificial intelligence empowers emergency managers to make smarter, faster, and more effective decisions, turning chaos into a controlled response. Is your emergency response strategy leveraging the power of AI? Explore how intelligent solutions can enhance your readiness.

Bomb Threat Protocols: Ensuring Safety Through Preparedness In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable environment, organizations must prioritize the safety and security of their people and facilities. One of the most critical emergency situations that companies may encounter is a bomb threat. While such incidents may be rare, preparedness and clear protocols are essential to minimizing risk and ensuring a swift, coordinated response. Staying Calm and Listening The first and most important step in managing a bomb threat is to remain calm. Panic can create confusion and hinder decision-making. If the threat comes through a phone call, it is crucial to keep the caller engaged, listen attentively, and document all details. Every piece of information could be vital to law enforcement and first responders. Gathering Critical Information Employees should be trained to ask relevant questions such as: Where is the device located? What does it look like? When is it set to detonate? Gathering these details provides authorities with a clearer picture and can accelerate the investigative process. Notifying the Authorities Immediately reporting the incident is vital. Contact the police and follow the organization’s internal reporting procedures. Timely escalation ensures that trained experts can intervene, assess the threat, and initiate proper countermeasures. Avoiding Suspicious Items Employees should never attempt to move, touch, or investigate suspicious packages or objects. Instead, the priority is to isolate the area, restrict access, and allow trained professionals to manage the situation. Coordinated Evacuation If directed, evacuation should be carried out calmly and systematically. Clear communication, use of designated routes, and prioritizing safety are key to ensuring that all employees and visitors can exit the premises efficiently and securely. Assisting First Responders Finally, employees play a supportive role by providing first responders with any notes, observations, or relevant information. Access to accurate details can significantly enhance the effectiveness of the emergency response. Building a Culture of Preparedness While no organization wishes to face such a scenario, being prepared is a responsibility that cannot be overlooked. Regular training, communication of protocols, and fostering a culture of safety ensure that employees know how to respond effectively in high-pressure situations. By taking these protocols seriously, organizations not only safeguard their people but also demonstrate a strong commitment to security, resilience, and corporate responsibility.

As emergency managers prepare for what could be an active hurricane season and a year of disasters, preparing to scale their staff and the size of the response is often a good use of time. As organizations surge and grow the number of responders involved in a disaster (whether through mutual aid partners, reassigned government staff, private sector contracted support, or volunteers), many emergency managers often find themselves transitioning from first being an operator, to a "working manager" as the first few people arrive, and ultimately into the manager and leader of a large team. As a team grows, the approach to managing and leading them should change as well. One way to get the most out of a team is to customize and tailor the way you assign each team member work and projects. Doing this well requires that a leader understands the motivations and abilities of each of their team members. A combination of ability and motivation can help you decide if the best way to assign someone a task is to: -- Direct them to do the task (one-way communication about the what, the when, and the how) -- Explain the task (include "why" in the direction) -- Support the task (the person leads until they need help) -- Delegate the task (full empowerment with near-zero support needed) Neither of the four approaches to assignments is right or wrong on its own. The goal is to choose the approach that is right for each person so the team can get the job done (and done in a way that accomplishes the organization's goals or values). Disaster preparation goes beyond just planning for the incident itself. It also requires that we develop the emergency managers and leaders who will be building an organizational structure on the fly, often with people they have never worked with before. Developing a degree of comfort with each of the four approaches to assignments ensures that emergency managers are able to adapt their style to meet the needs of their team. #emergencymanagement

Emergency and crisis management entails preparing for and responding to critical situations that could disrupt normal operations or pose significant risks to an organization. Under the security risk management (SRM) framework policy, organizations should aim to incorporate emergency and crisis management goals thus getting more value from the security function in building resilience and business continuity. Emergency and crisis management protocols that should be incorporated within the SRM program include :- 1. Emergency threat identification – This should be an initial element as the organization’s emergency response will be determined by the nature of threat and personnel capability to identify it. 2. Emergency notification plan - In the event of a critical threat, there should be a communication plan to notify staff as soon as possible about what they are expected to do. This should be managed through tested internal communications channels such as emails etc. 3. Personnel responsibilities - Assign relevant staff respective responsibilities for a smooth emergency response process. A selected group of staff members preferably line manager / supervisors /team leaders should be part of the emergency response management team and should be assigned response actions and are to be notified when an emergency crisis arise. 4. Evacuation and assembly - Include evacuation procedures in case of a threat action that warrants so .The procedures should include proactive evacuation through ideal communications systems as well as reactive evacuation as a result of the discovery or notification of the threat. Evacuation of offsite critical assets and staff should also be factored in where necessary. Assembly areas where a threat warrants external assembly should be factored in. The evacuation plans should include procedures on how to provide safe egress of physically challenged employees to safe zones. 5. Response force and the jurisdiction of organization emergency operational plan - Where the threat has probability of magnitude impact the threat emergency response plan should consist a response force overview outlined in its structure. The design of the organization’s protective system should assume that the response team is capable of handling the threat. 6. Contingency plans – A formal structure responsible for steering the organization through the more strategic implications of a threat. With outward focus towards the stakeholder liaison, establishing contingency facilities, HR issues, maintaining customer confidence, maintaining financial well being, coordinating and maintaining communication with stakeholders etc   7. Business continuity – Establish recovery time objectives for various aspects of business operation, offsite recovery contingency capacity operating at both the strategic level and at departmental recovery level with individual responsibilities under the plan cascaded down the organization. #Securityriskmanagement

If emergency response is our primary strategy, we’ve already lost. Response is necessary, but it’s also the most expensive, resource-intensive phase. It comes after the harm has already begun. What if we designed a system where response was the last resort? ✔ Land-use policies that prevent disasters before they happen ✔ Infrastructure that withstands shocks instead of needing constant recovery ✔ Communities that are prepared and self-sufficient, not just dependent on agencies Every dollar spent on prevention and resilience saves six to ten dollars in future disaster costs. Yet, funding continues to favor response over mitigation. This isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about saving lives before disaster strikes. 📖 Read the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/e3499SEF #EmergencyManagement #Resilience #ClimateAdaptation #Leadership