Other Roles in an emergency

It is sometimes necessary to turn to others within our local communities for help. The local level is the second tier of the pyramid, and is comprised of paid employees and volunteers from the private and public sectors. These individuals are engaged in preventing emergencies from happening and being prepared to respond if something does occur.

Most emergencies are handled at the local level, which puts a tremendous responsibility on the community for taking care of its citizens.

 Local officials’ responsibilities are:

• Identifying hazards and assessing potential risk to the community.
• Enforcing building codes, zoning ordinances, and land-use management programs.
• Coordinating emergency plans to ensure a quick and effective response.
• Fighting fires and responding to hazardous materials incidents.
• Establishing warning systems.
• Stocking emergency supplies and equipment.
• Assessing damage and identifying needs.
• Evacuating the community to safer locations.
• Taking care of the injured.
• Sheltering those who cannot remain in their homes.
• Aiding recovery efforts.

Check out Resources for Orange County emergency agencies or to identify your community’s local contacts.

If support and resources are needed beyond what the local level can provide, the community can request assistance from the state. The state may be able to provide supplemental resources such as funding, equipment and personnel to close the gap between what is needed and what is available at the local level.

The state also coordinates the plans of the various jurisdictions so that activities do not interfere or conflict with each other. To ensure personnel know what to do and efforts are in agreement, the state may offer a program that provides jurisdictions the opportunity to train and exercise together.

Check out Resources for key state emergency preparedness agencies and authorities.

At the top of the pyramid is the federal government, which can provide resources to augment state and local efforts. These resources can be in the form of:

• Public educational materials, such as this Web site, that can be used to prepare the public for protecting itself from hazards.
• Financial grants for equipment, training, exercises, personnel, and programs.
• Grants and loans to help communities respond to and recover from disasters so severe that the President of the United States has deemed them beyond state and local capabilities.
• Research findings that can help reduce losses from disaster.
• Technical assistance to help build stronger programs.

The national emergency management system is built on shared responsibilities and active participation at all levels of the pyramid. The whole system begins with you, the citizen, and your ability to follow good emergency management practices— whether at home, work, or other locations

Check out Resources for key national emergency preparedness agencies and authorities.