Emergency preparedness is a critical component of any organization's safety and security plan. It involves planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action to ensure that an organization is ready to respond to any emergency situation. Preparing for an emergency can help protect workers from potential hazards and ensure that they know what to do in the event of an emergency. FEMA provides state and local governments with funding for preparedness programs in the form of non-disaster-related grants.
These grants are used to improve the capacity of state and local emergency responders to prevent, respond to and recover from a terrorist incident involving weapons of mass destruction, chemical, biological, radiological products, nuclear and explosive devices and cyber attacks. National Protection and Preparedness (PNP) coordinates activities related to preparedness and protection across FEMA. Workshops and teleconferences should be held to show model programs, such as those of the Los Angeles Business and Industry Council for Emergency Planning and Preparedness (BICEPP) and the United States Central Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC). These programs can provide valuable insight into how organizations can develop their own emergency preparedness plans.
Organizations should also contact their city or county emergency manager for information about their community's emergency plans and how they can help in the event of a disaster. It is important for employers and workers to have the necessary equipment, know where to go, and know how to stay safe when an emergency occurs. Emergency preparedness is a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating and taking corrective action. Training and exercise plans are the cornerstone of preparedness, which focuses on preparedness to respond to incidents and emergencies of all hazards.
By taking the time to prepare for an emergency before it occurs, organizations can help ensure that their workers are safe in the event of an emergency.
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