Resiliency In Emergency Management

The best identified definition of resiliency is, “The ability to prepare and plan for, absorb,

recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events” (NAS). The relationship of resiliency in regard to emergency management are identified by key features of each phase. In order to have effective resiliency the community must continue to be involved in risk informed planning which is a component that is crucial to the prevention of threats and risks. It is important to encourage effective resource allocation. Creating a tactful and strategic plan communities are able to develop progressive and useful resiliency. Mitigation recognizes the strength and weakness creating a data pool of information from history which can encourage the improvements

needed to increase resiliency. Though resiliency cannot prevent all things proper mitigation can decrease the effect a disaster may impose. In relation to resiliency mitigation plays a major role because this is the segment where professionals and communities are able to evaluate the effectiveness of their planning and development. Preparedness is identified as the first and most immediate phase. To be prepared is to be in a state of readiness to contain the effects of potential disastrous events to minimize loss, injury, and damages. The response phase offers a live timeline of how measures are taken to ensure the most immediate responses are being utilized.

The final phase of emergency management is identified as Recovery. Actions taken to return a community to normal or near-normal conditions, including the restoration of basic services and the repair of physical, social and economic damages (Sant LouiseCounty,2017). Recovery overall will include debris cleanup, financial restoration, and social reconstruction all depending upon the needs and extent of disaster. Though response and recovery share similar trait, they are very different and beneficial in two major ways, recovery efforts are dealing with the aftermath of the immediate response. On the various levels of government every institution can utilize their resources differently. State and local governments should be using their resources to ensure the public awareness and preparedness is unique to the historical disaster related to the area, though it is imperative to prepare for all possible outcomes, it is imperative that emergency management does not become standardized and disconnects from the needs of the most at risk communities. An example of creating a state center/ region centered planning and preparedness would be Florida preparedness for hurricanes; there should be a much greater

presence in the state due to the known history, location, accessibility then to say the state of Ohio. States should be responsible for communicating their assessments to the Department of Homeland Security. Based upon what they have noted and request tools to increase their preparedness and resiliency. Resiliency requires a current knowledge of running systems and newest developments. Resiliency planning must be aligned with the growing technology and must be able to combat potential threats to communities that may not be as traditional as bombing, or floods. Nationally it is the responsibility of the government to protect citizens from cyber-attacks. The biggest challenge will be communities and organizations will be creating a workforce security assurance program to ensure mitigate from both internal and external threats. By doing this resiliency will increase its effectiveness and offer accountable results. The most final portion will be, participating in standard and yearly critical infrastructure security and resilience-focused trainings/exercise programs with organizations based in the local community, state level and federal level. Resilience is the empowerment of being aware of your situation, your risks, vulnerabilities, how to deal with current capabilities, and being able to make informed tactical and strategic decisions (The Six Steps Resilience Emergency Management,2017).