Elected Officials

Disasters always occur at the local level. For some types of natural disasters, like slow-rising floods or approaching storms, warning is available. Other disasters, like earthquakes, happen with little or no warning. The citizens in the area where the event occurs, and their local governments and voluntary agencies, are the first to cope with damage and response. Local governments must plan and prepare for this role with the support of the state and federal governments.

Learn more about national level preparedness from FEMA

Free Training Courses

IS-908: Emergency Management for Senior Officials

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The purpose of this course is to introduce senior officials to the important role they play in emergency management. The responsibility for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from incidents, both natural and man-made, begins at the local level–with individuals and public officials in the county, city, or town affected by the incident. This course presents:

Simple steps officials can take to become acquainted with their emergency management role, authorities, and team members.
Video presentations sharing lessons learned from officials of the City of Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

G0402: Incident Command System Overview for Executives and Senior Officials, ICS 402

Emergency Management Checklist for Senior Officials

Step 1: Understand the Emergency Management Mission

Does your jurisdiction’s emergency management mission...

Promote coordination and integration?
Include preparedness?
Address all hazards?
Do you integrate emergency management into daily decisions, not just during times of disaster?
While protecting the population is a primary responsibility of government, it cannot be accomplished without building partnerships among disciplines and across all sectors, including the private sector and the media.

Step 2: Review Your Authorities

Do you know what your authorities are for...

Developing and promulgating emergency plans and standards for emergency management?
Proclaiming a state of emergency?
Requesting assistance from other jurisdictions and the State?
Disseminating information and warnings?
Designating highways as emergency management routes?
Imposing restrictions during an emergency (e.g., controlling traffic, closing or restricting areas, or imposing curfew)?
Ordering evacuation and restricting reentry?

Has your jurisdiction met requirements that:

Officials are trained in emergency management?
A local emergency operation plan is developed and maintained?
A director of emergency management is appointed?
The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is adopted?

Step 3: Learn About Your Team

Step 4: Review Your Plans and Resources

Does your jurisdiction’s emergency operations plan (EOP):

Address all hazards?
Outline how all actions will be coordinated?
Include plans for protecting the whole community?
Detail who is responsible for carrying out specific actions?
Identify the personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies, and other resources available?

Does your jurisdiction have other types of plans that support and supplement the EOP, such as a:

Preparedness plan?
Continuity plan?
Recovery plan?
Mitigation plan?
Prevention and protection plan?

Step 5: Review Your Plans and Resources

Have you visited these emergency management facilities?

Communications/Dispatch Center: The agency or inter-agency dispatch center, 911 call center, or emergency control or command dispatch center that handles emergency calls from the public and communication with emergency management personnel
Emergency Operations Center (EOC): The physical location at which the coordination of information and resources to support incident management (on-scene operations) activities normally takes place. An EOC may be a temporary facility or may be located in a more central or permanently-established facility, perhaps at a higher level of organization within a jurisdiction

Does your jurisdiction have resource management procedures for:

Describing, inventorying, requesting, and tracking resources?
Activating and dispatching resources?
Managing volunteers and donations?
Demobilizing or recalling resources?
Financial tracking, reimbursement, and reporting?

Do mutual aid agreements:

Provide a mechanism to quickly obtain emergency assistance from other jurisdictions or organizations?
Specify request, response, and administrative procedures?

Is training provided to:

All personnel and partners with roles in emergency management?

Are exercises used to:

Test and evaluate plans, policies, and procedures?
Identify resource gaps and shortfalls?
Improve inter-agency coordination and communication?

Step 6: Know How to Lead During a Crisis

Are you prepared to lead during a crisis by:

Delegating authority to on-scene responders?
Instilling confidence in the public that the incident is being managed effectively?
Making policy decisions and securing needed resources?
Building partnerships and alliances?

Do you know how to request additional resources from:

The private sector and non-government organizations?
Other jurisdictions?
The State?
Do you have public information procedures for:
Disseminating accurate and timely information to the whole community?
Ensuring consistency and that everyone is speaking with one voice?

Step 7: Promote Community Preparedness

Does your community preparedness program foster:

Collaboration with community leaders from all sectors for effective planning and capacity building?
Integration of nongovernmental assets and resources into government plans, preparations, and disaster response?
Individual and family preparedness on how to prevent, protect, mitigate, prepare for, and respond to all threats and hazards?
Volunteer service for supporting community safety and critical surge capacity in response and recovery?

Be prepared before the need arises.

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