What elected officials should know about Emergency Management!!

Are We Prepared?

April 2006

By:Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department

How did the Spartanburg County Emergency Management Department Score?

South Carolina Emergency Management Department – State Assessment

What is the role of local Emergency Management?

What is your role before, during, and after a disaster?

Are We Prepared?

What is the role of Spartanburg County Government?

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.

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

State Assessment

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.

What is the role of local emergency management?

Who we are? And…What we do for you

Your local emergency management agency

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.

Your local Emergency Management Agency; we are….

Diverse Assignments Size Capabilities

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; What we do for you………

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

Your local Emergency Management Agency also….

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

Political Fortunes…

Disasters May…HINDER

Careers or…….

Benefit Careers

Former Seattle MayorPaul Schell

Former NY MayorRudy “The Rock”Giuliani

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…..

Reflections…

Your Roles and Responsibilities

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 overallresponse● 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

Domestic Preparedness

Final CommentsQuestions or Comments