As a future emergency manager how do you believe the public will judge your disaster management following a disaster in your community?

Answer 1

You will be judged not on the quality of your plans, but on the delivery of the recovery procedures as seen on the ground by those affected. You could have the greatest disaster strategy and plans developed, but it they don't survive 'contact with the enemy', then all that hard work is wasted. All plans should be regularly tested so people know what to do, and you can vary the tests by having subsequent failures to make sure people do not get complacent and to add variations. All your mitigation actions should have back-ups, and don't under-estimate the simple things like the electricity failing and all your PCs not working. Keep all paper documentation and signage up-to-date. Look to where you can call for assistance outside your affected area, and try to have mutual shared agreements to help others. The key like most things is to test, test and test again. The old saying goes that if you don't use it, you lose it. The public and press will always judge you on your failures and not on all the successes, so in a way it is a bit like being a politician.