Emergency Management
Preparedness
Preparedness covers those actions that individuals, communities and businesses take in order to prepare themselves for the effects of a disaster before it happens. The more prepared we all are for disasters, the less loss of life and damage to property will occur and the quicker a community will bounce back.
Access the information and links below for the following subjects:
Individual and Family Preparedness
Individuals and families should always have a disaster kit ready in their homes and vehicles, a plan as to what to do and where to go during emergencies when they cannot use their home. If they have disabled persons, elderly, or pets, their planning should take the special needs of these into account. Using the links immediately below, you can find information on these topics.
American Red Cross Family Preparedness Info -
http://www.redcross.org/services... - Open in New Window
VT Family Emergency Preparedness Workbook -
http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/FamilyPreparednessWorkbook2006.pdf - Download File
Dept. of Homeland Security Preparedness Materials - http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html - Open in New Window
Tips For Seniors -
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/seniors.html - Open in New Window
Animal Disaster Preparedness -
http://www.avma.org/disaster/saving_family.asp - Open in New Window
VVMA Preparing Your Pets (Small Animals) For Disaster-
http://www.vtvets.org/pdf/disaster_planning_pets.pdf - Download File
Preparing Your Livestock for Disaster - http://www.vtvets.org/pdf/disaster_planning_livestock.pdf - Download File
American Red Cross: Pets and Disasters -
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/animalsafety.html - Open in New Window
American Red Cross: Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs -
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_603_,00.html - Open in New Window
Generator Safety -
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_565_,00.html - Open in New Window
Sheltering in Place Guide - SIP guide2.pdf - File Size: 53KB - Download File
Community Preparedness
Governmental agencies, schools, hospitals, and emergency response agencies must take care of themselves during an emergency, as well as perform their function of assisting their constituents. Towns should have an Emergency Operations Center (usually located in a town office) with backup power so they can function under adverse conditions. All communities should also have a designated emergency shelter with backup power and a shelter agreement with the American Red Cross. Contact the Red Cross at 802-295-3635 about your shelter needs.
Preparation involves training, and emergency responders and elected officials should be conversant with the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). These are not operational procedures at the town level, but rather organizational systems for running disaster response and recovery. Links to training on these subjects can be found below.
Preparation also involves planning and, at the minimum, communities must have an up-to-date Rapid Response Plan (RRP) on file with Vermont Emergency Management, and should have a designated Local Emergency Management Coordinator/Director. TRORC will assist member towns in development of a RRP. For assistance contact Rita Seto at rseto@trorc.org.
Communities are also encouraged to adopt a Pre-disaster Mitigation Plan (for more information go to the Pre-disaster Mitigation section of this site), sound floodplain regulations, and thorough road policies to avoid preventable damage. Schools can use the model School Crisis Guide in their emergency planning efforts. All organizations should have a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to ensure they can still perform critical tasks during and after an emergency.
FEMA Continuity of Operations Plan Template - http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/coop/MYSPMPTemplate.pdf- File Size: 60KB - Download File
ICS 100 On-line Course Information - http://www.training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp - Open in New Window
NIMS On-line Course Information - http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is700.asp - Open in New Window
TRORC Continuity of Operations Outline - TRORCcoop.pdf - File Size: 23KB - Download File
Vermont Calendar of Emergency Training Courses - http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/training/ - Open in New Window
VSBA Model School Crisis Guide in Word - http://www.state.vt.us... - File Size: 1569KB - Download File
Business and Non-Profit Preparedness
Loss of a private business or non-profit due to the effects of a disaster can ruin the organization and its employees' livelihood, and, if large, cripple a local economy. Business failure due to predictable disasters can also open the company to lawsuits. The links below offer valuable information that will help for-profit and not-for-profit companies weather the strain a disaster can deliver.
Vermont Business Disaster Preparedness Workbook -
http://www.dps.state.vt.us/vem/business_emergency_prepare.pdf - File size 218Kb - Download File
IBHS Open for Business workbook - http://www.ibhs.org/business_protection/ - Open in New
Window
Disaster Resource: the source for business continuity - http://www.disaster-resource.com - Open in New Window
GNYHA Nursing Home Evacuation Checklist - GNHEPlan.pdf - File Size: 24KB - Download File
NFPA 1600 Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs - http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/pdf/nfpa1600.pdf - Download File
OSHA Business Evacuation Guide -
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/evacuation/evac.html - Open in New Window
American Red Cross Business and Industry Guide
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_606_,00.htm - Open in New Window
US Fire Administration Continuity of Operations Guide - https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/coop/ - Open in New Window