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View Slides (8 - 23)* FEMA Resources Private Sector: Related NFPA Documents: |
Core Requirements Edited Transcript of Live Chat The NFPA does not mandate compliance with a standard; rather, compliance becomes legally mandatory only when a jurisdiction, such as state government, adopts the standard into law. However, even without such adoption, the document does define a "standard of care" by a nationally recognized standard-making body, which may be applied in a civil action in order to assess negligence. In addition, the standard may serve as the basis for voluntary program accreditation, such as is being developed by the National Emergency Management Association (see Session Three). This session is not intended to be a substitute for obtaining a copy of the document, which may be ordered from NFPA. By necessity, the information is in summary form, and should not be used as the basis for compliance. This session is intended to provide an overview so that participants can get a "feel" for what is contained, and how it may be applied to benefit their programs and their customers (see Session Five). The document is organized into three chapters, which define the standard, and appendices, which provide explanatory information and other resources. This session will acquaint you with:
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Chapter 1: Introduction - The introductory material in Chapter 1 consists of three sections -- Scope, Purpose, and Definitions. The scope statement emphasizes that the standard establishes a common set of criteria, but does not specifically name the type of organizations to which it applies, just the type of programs, including disaster management, emergency management and business continuity. The purpose statement declares the intention for these criteria be used in the assessment, development, implementation, and maintenance of such programs, which include all four phases of emergency management -- mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The definition section provides 17 terms used throughout the document. Of particular interest, "entity" is defined as "a governmental agency or jurisdiction, private or public company, partnership, nonprofit organization that has disaster/emergency management responsibilities."
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Chapter 2: Program Management - Chapter 2 specifies requirements for program management in four brief sections entitled Policy, Program Coordinator, Program Committee, and Program Assessment. The policy section requires a written policy that defines five elements -- authority, vision/mission statement, management policies/procedures, applicable laws/authorities, budget/management schedules. The next two sections call for not only a program coordinator, but also a program committee on which the coordinator shall serve and by whom he/she shall be advised. External participation shall be solicited from relevant stakeholders. Finally, a periodic comprehensive assessment to determine program effectiveness is required in the last section of this chapter, although no specific schedule is defined.
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Chapter 3: Program Elements - This chapter contains 13 essential elements of a program which apply to all four phases, and the extent of the implementation to be determined by the potential hazards. Following an introductory section, the 13 elements are: 3-2 Laws and Authorities, which states that not only will the program comply with applicable laws, regulations and codes, but also that the entity will implement a strategy for updating such authorities as the need arises over time. 3-3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment requires hazards identification, and vulnerability/impacts analysis. Impacts to be considered include safety of individuals and response personnel, continuity of operations, property/infrastructure, delivery of services, environment, economic/financial, regulations/contracts and reputation. 3-4 Hazard Mitigation includes three subsections requiring development and implementation of a hazard mitigation strategy based on the hazards/impacts analysis, which considers eleven potentially available structural and non-structural options. 3-5 Resource Management includes five subsections, which require the establishment of performance objectives, capability assessment and steps needed to overcome shortfalls, resource inventory, voluntary donations, and mutual aid agreements where necessary. Resources include not only items such as response equipment and materials, but also less tangible resources such as expert knowledge and training. 3-6 Planning includes not only emergency response planning, but also strategic, mitigation and recovery planning. Subsections further define general requirements for plans in these areas, as well as continuity of operations. Plans must identify roles and responsibilities and lines of authority. 3-7 Direction, Control, and Coordination applies to both response and recovery operations, and requires the use of an incident management system, although no particular system is specified. It shall however include applicable procedures and utilize response levels based on the magnitude of the incident. 3-8 Communications and Warning has three subsections requiring communications systems, procedures to notify officials and response personnel (call down system), and warning process to alert the public, which are periodically tested. 3-9 Operations and Procedures requires the development and implementation of standard operating procedures for response activities, continuity of management/government, and recovery including damage assessment and identification of resources needed to support recovery operations. 3-10 Logistics and Facilities includes establishing procedures for tracking resources and a facility to support response and recovery operations (commonly referred to as an emergency operations center, or EOC). 3-11 Training has five subsections requiring an assessment of training needs and development and implementation of a training program, including the training in the incident management system and documentation of training conducted. 3-12 Exercises, Evaluations, and Corrective Actions requires periodic testing and review of plans, procedures and capabilities, including post-incident reports, exercises and performance evaluations. Procedures are required to ensure that identified deficiencies are addressed, and plans revised where appropriate. 3-13 Crisis Communications, Public Education, and Information requires procedures for responding to requests for disaster information, including providing information to the media, and further requires implementation of a public education program. 3-14 Finance and Administration requires financial and administrative procedures to support the program. |
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Appendices - Three appendices provide supplemental information and are not part of the requirements: Appendix A provides explanatory information for sections in the standard, and are cross-referenced by section number. Of particular interest, disaster is not defined in the standard itself, and a note on the scope of the standard defers this definition to the implementing organization. Sample public and private sector policy statements are provided and further explanation is given regarding the roles of the program coordinator and committee. Other sections deal with recommendations for the various program elements. Appendix B provides contact information for various national agencies and organizations in the U.S. and Canada, as well as academic institutions. Appendix C provides additional planning resources, including publications, and additional contact information for both private and public sector organizations.
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