Improve Emergency Planning Process
Develop and implement a professional career track for emergency planners. Ten years ago in North Carolina, we had one all-hazards plan and one hazard-specific one (hurricanes). Today we still have the one base plan and 15 hazard-specific ones. During this period, EM planning postions dropped from 14 to 9. Other state agencies have increased their preparedness planning, but we do not have a standard planning process. ...more »
Develop and implement a professional career track for emergency planners. Ten years ago in North Carolina, we had one all-hazards plan and one hazard-specific one (hurricanes). Today we still have the one base plan and 15 hazard-specific ones. During this period, EM planning postions dropped from 14 to 9. Other state agencies have increased their preparedness planning, but we do not have a standard planning process. This situation results in uncoordinated plans and at times activites working against each other. Typically, agencies use a Conceptual Planning (CONPLAN) process when for hazard-specific plans, agencies should use an Operational Planning (OPLAN) process. To reiterate, the emergency response community needs to improve its core competencies to meet increased public expectations.
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