Context of emergency management plans
Emergency management plans do not operate in a vacuum—they are very strongly dependent on the culture and perception of risk of those developing the plans, and of those for whom the plans are developed.
Emergency management plans must be developed to suit the context in which they are to operate. This is one of the reasons why the practice of adapting an existing plan to a different area does not work effectively.
So what is the context in which plans operate? Let's look at some examples.
If you were developing an emergency management plan for an administrative area, say a region or district, there might be a number of other related plans in existence which could have a great influence on your work. There is a need to consider the plans at a higher or lower administrative level, as well as those plans that operate within your own level. Figure 3.1 illustrates this.
Figure 3.1: Context of an emergency management plan for a region or district
There will of course be many emergency response and recovery procedures attached to these plans.
If you are developing an on-site plan for a manufacturing industry, there may be a similar planning context, part of which is shown in Figure 3.2 below.
Figure 3.2: Context of an on-site emergency management plan for industry
Beyond the context of other plans and procedures, there is the general environment in which the plan operates. Figure 3.3 below illustrates this broader context.
Figure 3.3: Influences on emergency management
Adapted from: Parker, D. (1992). The mismanagement of hazards. Hazard Management and Emergency Planning: Perspectives on Britain, James & James Science Publishers, London, p. 8.
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I now want you to consider your own planning project, which should follow on from the Hazard Analysis/ Risk Assessment that you conducted in EMG101. What is the context of the emergency management plan you will develop for your Major Project in this subject? Take time now to examine the assignment requirements and guidelines contained within your Subject Outline. Pay particular attention to what we require you to do for Assignment 2 – your major planning project for this subject. Briefly explain the context of the emergency management plan you will develop for this subject on the subject’s online forum. You will hopefully be surprised by the variety of emergency management plans that are going to be developed by your fellow class members. |
