The State of California came up with an emergency plan geared towards the minimization of the effects of unforeseen natural calamities as well as human-induced disasters. The plan contains provisions as to how emergency situations should be approached in the event of their happening.
This eliminates the likelihood of a situation whereby, the unforeseen eventuality may totally destabilize the functionality of a country in its entirety owing to its inadequacy, whether in terms of resources or otherwise, to adapt. It outlines the mandate of all the stakeholders, policies and strategies to be adopted and sets aside the resources to be grabbed upon the occurrence of an emergency.
Importance of an Emergency Response Plan
An emergency response plan is of paramount importance to the future stability of a country since the global world is precarious and always in a state of uncertainty and unpredictability. Such a plan provides a stable framework through which all the stakeholders combine hands to fight a countrywide predicament and save its population from sinking from an emergency.
The stakeholders may involve the local authorities, the central government as well as the private individuals of the country. This is because it integrates strategies and procedures to be used in such a situation, which promotes an effective plan in preparation for an emergency to adequately respond to and recover from it.
For this to be done effectively, it requires that the potential hazards be identified and their possible outcomes be evaluated to determine the extent of their potential destruction. An emergency plan therefore ensures that such fieldwork is conducted and the results put down in writing so as to identify any possible means through which such outcomes may be handled to minimize their destructiveness on humankind.
Such calamities include earthquakes, floods, fires, landslides, volcanic eruptions etc. The countries vulnerabilities are identified and well planned for. Its abilities in coping with a disaster are also identified and weaknesses ironed out prior to the happening of an emergency situation.
The stakeholders are well organized and their powers and mandates clearly laid down. Their role is also well established and authority conferred upon them so that they know what to do and who to consult when such situations arises. This ensures that when the time comes, the whole network is well organized and there is no time wasted when trying to identify who is to do what. Further, it reduces the bureaucracy of the ordinary day activities from arising during emergencies.
It also coordinates resources and information required amongst all the stakeholders for disasters both at the regional and national level. The resources are set aside to cater for only emergency situations and not any other reasons. This therefore avoids a situation whereby a country has exhausted all its reserve resources leaving it at a helpless situation when disaster strikes.
Failure to have enough resources to fight a disaster will result into prolonged effects being felt and this may result into immeasurable destructiveness of the country both in the present and in future. Information is also availed to help predict when and where the calamity may occur. Information also helps determine how to go about the whole situation, the tools to be used and the places affected. The people who are responsible for each and every detail are also well known and will move quickly to perform their role.
An emergency response plan also ensures that individuals and the community as a whole is prepared for an emergency situation. The plan will provide for a way to carry out preparedness initiatives through such activities as ‘Be Ready’ campaigns, (California Emergency Management Agency, 2009).
This helps to curb any psychological complications that may happen to the victims from such calamities. Further, such campaigns may harmonize individuals to volunteer and provide their valuable support during such events. These campaigns also help to integrate and bring together all individuals, voluntary groups, nongovernmental organizations and business entities to fight towards the achievement of a common goal which is to assist in the quick recovery from such emergencies.
A good emergency response plan will also attract the international community to take part in a countries predicament and help them to quickly recover from it. This help may either be material, in terms of resources such as finances or workers, or may be moral support.
They may also provide hospitality to people who will free from such affected areas for the duration in which the predicament will prevail. Help may also come in form of improved technology to help overcome the disaster faster than it would have been possible using the countries own technology.
Conclusion
It is an undisputed fact that nobody knows with certainty when disaster may strike. The least we can do is hope for the best but prepare for the worst. An emergency response plan is one of those tools that every country should have.
It has been known to be effective in saving human lives as well as preventing unnecessary destruction of property. An emergency response plan for a country is just like a shield for a soldier in the battlefield. Failure by any country to adopt one is to open its citizens to many risks and threats that so often befall mankind.
Reference
California Emergency Management Agency. (July 2009). State of California Emergency Plan, State Capitol. Sacramento: California