Over time, the organizational structure of emergency response has evolved. Many emergencies result in disasters. Therefore, there have been advancements in strategies and policies of emergency responses. In collaboration with the system and procedures, there are organizational structures of emergency response. The purpose of these organizational structures of emergency response is to prevent disasters and minimize the emergency's impact. Thus, the organizational structures of emergency response are classified into different levels. Consequently, the responsibilities towards emergency responses are delegated within varying levels of the government. The different organizational structure levels of emergency response include local, tribal, state, and federal levels. Each group has different strategies and policies that govern the operations. The purpose of classification is to enhance the effectiveness of the implemented procedures and policies. Therefore, there are different levels of the emergency response's organizational structure, including local, tribal, state, and federal levels and other coordinating systems that are significant in emergency response.
Local Level
The local level of the organizational structure of emergency response involves a vast group of individuals. Ideally, emergencies originate from local levels, and the impact is significantly felt within the local level. Thus, the organizational structure at the local level is large compared to other emergency response levels. The main parties involved in the local level emergency response include the local police, medical providers, and emergency medical responders. The minor parties have public workers, environmental responders, and a hazard response team. The organizational structure of emergency response at the local level is responsible for managing vast emergencies that occur daily (Henstra 2010). Additionally, they provide operational coordination for executing an adequate response.
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Fundamentally, there are collaborating structures that work hand in hand in emergency response at the local level. Each collaborating system has specific entities that perform different functions. These collaborating structures employ various coordinating designs to ensure accurate identification of risks and proper organization of capabilities (Henstra, 2010). In that, different members are assigned in their areas of expertise. However, when the emergency becomes extensive, they can obtain support from federal and state resources.
Some factors differentiate the Local-level organization structure of emergency response from other levels. An emergency is usually felt firsthand at the community level. Thus, the organizational structure involves individuals who understand the community's needs and resources. The local level organizational structure is designed following the needs of the society. Nonetheless, in emergencies affecting a tribe in the community, the tribal organization structure emergency response is applicable.
Tribal Level
The organizational structure of the emergency at the tribal level varies depending on different factors. Different tribal organizations correspond to emergency response; thus, the variation. Ideally, many tribal organizations are in charge of planning and management of emergencies at the tribal level (Lindsay, 2008). Some of the tribal organizations include the Intertribal Council of Arizona, Intertribal council of California, National tribal Emergency management council, Northwest Tribal Emergency Council, and iTribal Emergency Management organization. These organizations assist in fostering alliances among tribes, Federal and State agencies. At the tribal level of the emergency response's organization structure, the coordinating systems vary depending on different factors. The determining factors include population size, economic conditions, and capabilities.
There are differentiating factors that differentiate the tribal level from other levels. That is, tribal level response addresses the emergencies that affect a specific tribe (Lindsay, 2008). Besides, tribal level policies and mechanisms are directed by different tribal organizations. However, when the emergencies overwhelm the tribal level, they can seek federal intervention under the Stafford Act. Consequently, there is the state level, which response to the local level.
State Level
At the state level, the organizational structure emergency response team includes a governor, State emergency Director, a homeland security advisor, and National guards. The state-level response teams act in support of the local level (Bazan 2005). They step in when the emergency overpowers the local level team. However, the state-level emergency response is essential for the overall emergency program. They serve the role of planning and training their staff on internal policies and procedures. They act as the primary members of the state Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and Incidents command posts. The critical difference between the state level and other levels is the team in charge of implementing policies for the state level.
Federal Level
The organizational structure of emergency response at the federal level maintains a broad network of responders. The federal-level organization structure offers technical support, information on material, and fiscal support to other levels (Bazan 2005). It is led by the secretary of homeland security, a FEMA Administrator, Attorney general, secretary of defense, secretary of state, and other departments' heads. Thus, the federal level engages when all different levels of government are active. The federal-level offers support through response to emergencies that affect the state's capacity, tribal, insular, and local government.
The Federal level intervenes when different response levels are overwhelmed. During a Federal response level, the Emergency Support Function (ESF) is directed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Bazan, 2005). In that respect, the ESF plays a vital role in implementing a critical mechanism to coordinate functional capabilities. ESF is the leading facilitator of functional areas in the Federal response. The functional areas include transportation, housing, medical services, etc. Federal has different team members as compared to other levels. Moreover, it is designed in a way that it can respond to other levels of emergency response.
Significance of NRF, NIMS, ICS, and Stafford Act to Emergency Response
National Response Framework
The National Response Framework(NRF) is significant as it provides a guide on how a nation responds to all types of emergencies. NRF is an ideal technique for domestic incident management. NRF is utilized to prevent, prepare, and respond to a significant disaster, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies(Lindsay,2008). The NRF provides a structural mechanism for implementing policies and direction of domestic incident management. NRF enables the achievement of maximum flexibility. Additionally, it facilitates effective communication among state, local, federal, and tribal entities.
National Incident Management System
National Incident Management System (NIMS) is a model that guides all levels of government and private organizations on how to coordinate and respond to emergencies. Thus, NIMS provides all the nation sector with a common ground towards response and management of emergencies (Waugh, 2009). It provides a uniform national framework that can be
implemented at all levels of emergency response. Fundamentally, it enables different levels to work together and facilitate prevention, protection, and emergency mitigation. The first coordinating structure at the local level is the National Incident Management (NIMS). The purpose of NIMS at the local level is to ensure a common approach to managing incidents. Additionally, NIMS collaborates with the Incident Command System (ICS) to manage personnel, equipment, and facilitate communication within the organizational structure.
Incident Command System(ICS)
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a uniform stratified structure that enables corporations’ in multiple emergency response agencies. It was initially created in the 1970s to prevent and reduce wildfires' impact (Waugh, 2009). ICS operates in different emergency response categories, including command, operations, planning, logistics, and administration. Each functional area serves a vital purpose in the process of emergency response. With the operational levels' application in the right order, the response level effectively manages the emergency's effects. Thus, ICS ensures that the most vital needs of an emergency are met in terms of their urgency. The essential role of ISC is to develop planning and management functions to respond to emergencies. ICS serves levels in both internal and external government to ensure there is an adequate response.
The Stafford Act
The Stafford Act is particularly vital at the Tribal level. Stafford Act ensures that the federal government adheres to the rights and the treaty of the tribal level (Bazan, 2005). In that, the tribal group can respond to emergencies on their terms and policies. However, there are instances when the federal level intervenes at the tribal level. In this conditions, when the federal level is acting under the Stafford Act, they must operate under two declarations. The first declaration is an emergency declaration. The emergency declarations involve few federal programs that are not associated with recovery programs. The second declaration is a major disaster declaration. The
declaration provides more federal programs for response and recovery.
Conclusively, the emergency response's organization structure is categorized into local, tribal, state, and federal levels. Each level has a team of different professionals. The professionals coordinate and prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies. These levels operate under different policies and mechanisms. Thus, there are boundaries on the territories in which a level can handle. Additionally, other coordination structures include NFR, NIMS, ICS, and the Stafford Act. The significance of NIMS is that it provides a template for the management of emergencies. On the other hand, the National Response Framework(NRF) provides mechanisms to implement their established policies. The ICS enables corporation between different agencies while the Stafford Act protects the rights of the tribal level.
References
Bazan, E. B. (2005). Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act: Legal requirements for federal and state roles in declarations of an emergency or a major disaster. Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress.
Henstra, D. (2010). Evaluating local government emergency management programs: What framework should public managers adopt. Public Administration Review, 70(2), 236-246.
Lindsay, B. R. (2008). The National Response Framework: Overview and possible issues for congress. Congressional Research Service.
Waugh Jr, W. L. (2009). Mechanisms for collaboration in emergency management: ICS, NIMS, and the problem with command and control. The collaborative public manager: New ideas for the twenty-first century, 157-175.
