Purpose of the Plan
This plan shall be known as the Disaster Emergency Operation Plan or Birmingham EOP. It is also viewed as a local integrated emergency handling manual. The purpose of Birmingham City Emergency Operation Plan (hereinafter Birmingham EOP) is to identify resources or means to exploit all the existing and undiscovered possessions to mitigate, respond and contain any impending disaster or emergency. This plan also focuses on revamping the city's preparedness, timely responses to safety, protection and swift recoveries to such inevitable harm that may occur (Hope, 2016). Birmingham EOP covers the definition and description of the activities to include the mechanisms, workforce, and resources that will be deployed to act in response to any disaster that has happened or may occur in the future. Significantly, the Birmingham EOP will be involved in disaster management situations, such as but not limited terrorism, the natural occurrence such as flood, fire, storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, drought, chemical spillage, pollution among others that may endanger the city's eco-system.
Scope
Fundamentally, Birmingham city population at all time may be at risk of being hit by emergency disasters (Fagel, 2016). In regard to this enforceable situation, Birmingham EOP establishes an extra disaster response management department. The emergency operation plan focuses on the following factors as a major priority; that is, mitigation of disaster occurrence which will aim at reducing chances of occurring or containing the rate of consequential damage when it occurs. Secondly, Birmingham EOP also focuses on protection and safety of property and life. Thirdly, the broader scope will also concentrate on stabilizing situations and incidents whenever they occur. Basically, this scope is achievable where Birmingham EOP stakeholder works in tandem with the other city departments and stakeholders. The partnership will focus on having a clear chain of communications, command and proper hierarchy within the relevant authorities, and at the same time have clear policies in place. These policies include having fire response unit, and employ a working responsive security system, evacuation team as well as having proper infrastructures in place to help achieve this scope. Moreover, the Birmingham city authority, the existing regulations, and by-laws together with other regulatory bodies will be incorporated into the plan.
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Situation Overview
Birmingham City, neighbors of the Mexican countries. It is located in central Alabama State in the U.S.A with high population. This is a hilly city in the valley along the Appalachian Mountains. The city experiences an extreme temperature that is either too low or too high, during summer, precipitation in the form of thunderstorms do occur (MacGregor, 2016). The city is more developed, infrastructure wise, industrially, and technologically. By this being the case, Birmingham city has regular hazards that may culminate into disasters such as storms, flood, wildfires chemical spillage, pipeline ruptures, and accidental contamination.
In the same breath, the city's populous number is much vulnerable to incidental disasters. Notably, there is also susceptibility of civil disorders arising, riots and greater probability of terrorism other disastrous that may incidentally occur; as a measure to curb these situations (MacGregor, 2016). Birmingham City Council maintains a 24hr response to emergencies in cooperation with the relevant stakeholders. However, this may not be adequate when hit by an unforeseen disaster. Therefore, Birmingham City EOP does not seek to replace, interfere with or become a parallel body nor work against the existing Birmingham City emergency operation plan but instead, it aims to provide a more efficient and reliable response to emergency disasters. Birmingham City EOP will focus on an all-inclusive organizational and departmental approach and not single-handedly be dealing with disasters as compared to the city's emergency operation department. The EOP focuses on working interdepartmental and in partnership with all stakeholders as well as the citizenry within the city jurisdiction in what will be termed as devolved disaster response department.
Assumptions
A general view is that a disaster may occur in the city at any time unannounced; that is floods, wildfires, storms and hurricanes, chemical pollution, and other National emergencies. When these disasters occur, it is almost always hypothetical that local authorities and the relevant emergency operations plan and relevant local authorities can swiftly respond and manage the situation as long as they have the required resources. However, the magnitude of the emergency and the time when it strikes is always unknown; when such a disaster occurs, the emergency response team needs more resources in terms of funds, infrastructure, machinations, and workforce to manage to contain the situation. The greatest assumptions are that; firstly, there will be shortages including energy, medical and food supply. Secondly, that not all the residents and visitors will be able to evacuate.
Similarly, that transport will be hampered by infrastructure as roads will be impassable and also communication will be impossible. Thirdly, power, water, and telephone services will be out, for a prolonged time, in the same plane there is an assumption that locations and town offices will be inaccessible. Additionally, it is also an assumption that all requests for assistance such as medical responses, security reinforcement, structural repair on bridges and roads or rescue team and firefighting mechanism will not be available in some areas and that it will only be limited to urban areas. Primarily, it is also an assumption that service providers and disaster management providers will be inadequate due to overwhelming situations; similarly, there will be an outbreak of contaminable and communicable diseases and the medical team will be overwhelmed to handle the disaster. Lastly, there will be massive air, water, and soil pollutions as hazardous, harmful chemicals will be released into the environment.
References
Fagel, M. J. (2016). Principles of emergency management and emergency operations centers (EOC) . CRC press.
Hope, J. (2016). Participate in a comprehensive effort to create department emergency plans. Campus Security Report, 13 (2), 1-5.
MacGregor, R. (2016). The Diary of the Human Race: 150 Years of Birmingham Reference Libraries. Refer, 32 (3), 23.
