Skip to content
info@johnstek.com Corporate HQ: Coral Gables, FL, USA +1.786.375.9020 Latin American HQ: Asuncion, Paraguay +595.213.277.395
Search:
Search
JohnsTek
Strategic Technology Engineering
JohnsTekJohnsTek
  • About
  • Products & Services
  • Cyber Risk
    • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)
    • Cyber Risk Management Solution
  • Markets
    • Commercial
    • Government
  • Resource Center
  • Contact
  • About
  • Products & Services
  • Cyber Risk
    • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)
    • Cyber Risk Management Solution
  • Markets
    • Commercial
    • Government
  • Resource Center
  • Contact

Five Things Local Governments Can Do Now To Prepare For Disaster Response

You are here:
  1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Five Things Local Governments Can…
Jan112019
BlogCommunicationsPresidents CornerEOC_ops

Planning and preparation for disaster response can be a daunting task for any size government.  Municipalities, Towns, Cities, and States all have a responsibility to be prepared to respond when the unexpected happens suddenly.  Each of the areas listed below require several layers of details to be added for the activities to be effective.

 

1. Identify the Emergency Management Response Team (EMRT) for the jurisdiction. This includes, perhaps, thinking outside of the immediate organization and looking to external organizations that bear responsibility in the response to an emergency. Define the roles and responsibilities of each of the EMRT members, how they are contacted, and where they will physically reside during the emergency.

Communications among the member representatives is crucial.  How information is shared and coordination occurs must be decided and exercised.

Each EMRT member must understand what resources the others bring to the table during an emergency response. Again, practice using those resources is imperative.

2. Define the critical resources and assets needed in the community for residents and businesses to survive. The entire community must be educated about where critical resources or services will come from during an emergency. Utilities, city water, drinking water, food, and medical care are all examples of critical resources.  What are the sources of those assets? Do they reside inside the community, or are they provided from external sources.  There must be a plan for replenishment of those resources or services as they are expended.

3. Define those resources and services required by other communities that are provided by your community.  Perhaps the local community has the regional utility provider, hospital, airport, or main access roads for delivery of supplies. Each community must have a plan to provide or make those services available, or help in planning alternative solutions.

4. Know Your Community.  It is critical that during the emergency the EMRT understand the local Population, Demographics, First Responder Assets (Police, Fire, Ambulance, Hospital), Schools (capacity, structure capability), Communications hubs (capacity, alternate power sources, etc). The number of available police vehicles, police officers, ambulances, and paramedics allows the team to properly plan field support and make rapid decisions. This data must be known before an emergency situation presents itself, and updated regularly throughout the incident.

5. Determine shortfalls and training requirements for the EMRT. Exercise response to a declared emergency, practice communications and information sharing with multiple agencies, and document strengths and weaknesses.  Revisit the areas documented periodically.

 

These items are crucial for development of a team capable of responding to any emergency situation. This is only a starting point to benchmark the organization’s abilities.  It does not take a large budget to begin the process to prepare.

 

Please contact us for more information!

Author:  Scott A. Johnston
Scott A. Johnston is the President and Founder of JohnsTek, Incorporated.
www.johnstek.com
@JOHNSTEK (Twitter)

 

Categories: Blog, Communications, Presidents CornerBy Scott JohnstonJanuary 11, 2019
Tags: CIPCritical Infrastructure ProtectionDisaster PlanningDisaster PreparationEmergency ManagementEmergency Operations CenterFirst RespondersIncident ResponseNIMS

Author: Scott Johnston

https://johnstek.com

Post navigation

PreviousPrevious post:Five Things You Can Do Now To Implement Or Improve CybersecurityNextNext post:JohnsTek Capability Statement 2019

Related posts

CyberShield
Stay Secure During the Holiday Season!
December 13, 2020
Cafe Photo
Data Protection In Cafes And Restaurants
February 10, 2019
JohnsTek Capability Statement 2019
February 9, 2019
Cyber_Pentagon_Transparent
Five Things You Can Do Now To Implement Or Improve Cybersecurity
January 8, 2019
IBM_JohnsTek
JohnsTek Partners with IBM Security!
November 19, 2018
BlackTDS Malvertisements On The Rise
March 26, 2018
Shortcuts
  • About Us
  • Offerings
  • Products & Services
  • Commercial
  • Government
  • Privacy
  • Terms
JohnsTek News
  • CyberShield
    Stay Secure During the Holiday Season!
    December 13, 2020
  • Cafe Photo
    Data Protection In Cafes And Restaurants
    February 10, 2019
  • JohnsTek Capability Statement 2019
    February 9, 2019
Security Alerts
  • Alert Dispatch 23JUN17 ~ By JohnsTek
    June 23, 2017
  • Alert Dispatch 5JUN17 ~ By JohnsTek
    June 5, 2017
  • Alert Dispatch 18MAY17 ~ By JohnsTek
    May 18, 2017
Intel Brief
  • The Intel Brief 02OCT17 ~ By JohnsTek
    September 28, 2017
  • The Intel Brief 16AUG17 ~ By JohnsTek
    August 16, 2017
  • The Intel Brief 16JUN17 ~ By JohnsTek
    June 16, 2017
Press Releases
  • JohnsTek Capability Statement 2019
    February 9, 2019
  • IBM_JohnsTek
    JohnsTek Partners with IBM Security!
    November 19, 2018
  • Veterans Day
    JOHNSTEK WISHES YOU A HAPPY VETERAN’S DAY!
    November 10, 2017
Copyright © 2022 JohnsTek | All Rights Reserved.
  • About Us
  • Offerings
  • Products & Services
  • Commercial
  • Government
  • Privacy
  • Terms
Footer