After the examination of the Emergency Operations Plan (2013) for Holderness, New Hampshire, based on the main components of an emergency operation plan (EOP), it is possible to conclude that it may be regarded as an efficient plan that includes all details obligatory for any EOP. In general, EOP plays a highly essential role in emergency management as it describes necessary responsive actions that should be taken in the case of manmade, technological, or natural hazards. An efficient plan covers all aspects of emergency response and preparedness, addresses all threats and even unforeseen ones, and defines tasks of all specific organizational elements. The plan’s components traditionally include introduction, purpose statement, situation, assumptions, the concept of operations, organization and assignment of responsibility, administration and logistics, plan development and maintenance, and authorities, along with references.
In turn, the Emergency Operations Plan (2013) for Holderness, New Hampshire, may be regarded as a properly structured emergency plan that consists of ten chapters and multiple figures that illustrate the main points. The components of an emergency plan are included in the first chapter, while others describe emergency support functions, address various types of hazards, resource inventory, and administration. Thus, Chapter 1, which represents the basic plan, includes a foreword, introduction, situation and planning assumptions, the concept of operations, administrative, finance, and logistics, general responsibilities, plan management, authorities and references, and acronyms with abbreviations (Garneau, 2013). The purpose of this plan is not separated as a distinct part. However, it is included in the plan’s introduction along with its scope, structure, and basic elements. The situation is related to the town’s topography, and assumptions include sixteen natural hazards and six human-related potential events (Garneau, 2013). Organization and assignment of responsibility are included in the part dedicated to the concept of operations. In addition, the component of the plan development and maintenance is defined as plan management.
In general, Holderness’s Emergency Operations Plan implies a multifaceted document that does not have considerable weaknesses. In turn, its strengths are a comprehensible structure, the identification of all potential hazards with the probability of their occurrence, and the detailed description of assumptions, all facilities involved, and plan management. The plan provides an in-depth insight into the territory’s topography, climate, and even history (Garneau, 2013). All components are supported by figures that can be detected easily due to the table of contents. Numerous annexes dedicated to hazards that require particular attention to structures and communities are included. In addition, the plan includes not only logistics and administration but the financial responsibilities of structures as well. An operation plan traditionally consists of three parts – the basic plan, annexes related to functions, and hazard-specific appendices. However, in Holderness’s Emergency Operations Plan, appendices are addressed as annexes. Although it does not impact the document’s meaning and expediency, it would be more convenient if functions, inventory, and administration were divided from specific hazards.
At the same time, from a personal perspective, the program does not require substantial improvement. However, it should be used as a basis for the modern emergency operations plan. For instance, the project of 2013 based its assumptions, especially in relation to potential hazards, on the data of 2008 (Garneau, 2013). Thus, the next plan that will address the current situation may be based on this document.
Reference
Garneau, J. E. (2013). Emergency Operations Plan, Holderness, NH [PDF document]. Web.