Introduction
Emergency planning is an eminently possible activity for everyone as well as an obligation of the civil authorities responsible for the safety of workers, patients, inmates and the general public. This paper is centred on a comprehensive outline of planning, applicability and use of planning concepts to counter specific emergencies. The paper will detail the principles of planning, and make a connection on how the tiers of planning collaborate in the planning process and finally compare how this connection can be used and implemented in handling specific emergency situations.
Principles of The Planing Process
Planning applies ten principles that make the whole process effective:
Community Engagement
Planning should ensure that the community is involved or represented in all aspects to ensure that the right information or data is derived. Such information may include, for instance, the population composition of a place, beliefs and social aspects which are very essential in the planning process (Alexander, 2014). Community engagement is important because, in an emergency, the community will always be the point of reference and information gathering.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Participation and Involvement of Senior Officials
Without involving senior officials, the planning process may prove futile at the end of the day. Senior officials like government officials, specific groups concerned with an emergency. Most of the senior officials'roles will revolve around decision and policy-making as well as officiating necessary approvals in the process.
Logical and Analytical Problem Solving Process
Planning should use logical and analytical problem-solving tactics to tackle the complexities and threats that are inherent in the process. This may include taking the right steps required when handling an emergency the jurisdiction.
Examining All Threats and Hazards
There can be no specificity for a particular emergency. Planning should include examination and consideration of all hazards and threats relating to all emergencies by identifying key responsibilities and functions on them.
Focus on Needed Capabilities
Planning should put attention on how able the jurisdiction can go in handling an emergency. This may include the number of those responsible in handling the emergency, is the number enough? are there enough resources or operational ability.? All these are done to ensure that the emergency is fully managed.
Flexibility Of Plans
Plans should be malleable enough to be easily executed, When planners come up with rigid plans, some emergencies may be hard to address because of insufficient resources and expertise.
Establish Measurable Goals
Plans should define goals that can be achieved. Motivation is drawn by defined and measurable goals by teams who work towards giving desirable results from the defined goals.For emergencies, planners should give timelines, and examine progress while sealing any gaps identified.
Identify Tasks, Resources and Accountability
In an event of an emergency, so much has to be done, but there has to an account of the same. Plans should, therefore, identify the task and allocate specific resources for such tasks and finally evaluate the accountability of whether the tasks were properly done. There should seamless accountability for execution of futures tasks, which planners have to make it clear to those assigned.
Anticipate the Emergency Environment
Predicting or forecasting for an emergency is a core activity of planning. Planning should anticipate an emergency environment to create an understanding of what is to be done and draw away fear.
Avoid Reinvention
Previous plans implemented by other jurisdictions and authorities that worked can be used by planners rather than coming with others.
Planning Concepts In Sequencing Operation Within The Planning Process
The planning process is sequential and as planners apply the principles of planning they are guided by concepts and tiers of planning. The phasing concept goes along with the strategic planning, where the scope of emergency management is defined and this how it will be possible, The next step involves the concept of branches which is operational planning that relates to defining roles, responsibilities and assigning tasks. The planning process moves to The planning horizons that define timelines and the length of the period. This is tactful planning. The forward and reverse planning concept helps in control to avoid reinvention.
Comparison of the Planning Concepts and Planning Tiers
Both planning and concepts and the Planning tiers work together in collaboration to counter emergencies. Conversely, while phasing, branches, strategic planning, operational planning and the planning horizons define the what is to be done in countering an emergency, the concept of forward and reverse planning together with tactical planning take advantage of existing plans for direct control of an emergency
Conclusion
Planning may be a lengthy process, but when the principles of planning are properly utilized as well sequencing the concepts and tiers of planning together, the planning will be effective and management of a emergency will not be difficult.
References
Alexander, D. (2014). Principles of Emergency Planning and Management. Edinburgh: Dunedin Academic Press.
