The Division of Emergency Management traces it program to the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950. In 1975, the Kansas legislature repealed old provisions and reshaped the agency’s focus from pure war-time civil defense activities to preparedness for all hazards, emergencies or disasters. Federal statute is the Stafford Act. The State Statute which gives us our authority is Chapter 48, Article 9.
Mitigation refers to activities that are designed to: Reduce or eliminate risks to persons or property, or Lessen the actual or potential effects or consequences of an incident. Mitigation measures: May be implemented prior to, during, or after an incident. Are often developed in accordance with lessons learned from prior incidents. Can include efforts to educate governments, businesses, and the public on measures that they can take to reduce loss and injury. Mitigation is accomplished in conjunction with a hazard analysis (which will be covered in Unit 4). A hazard analysis helps to identify: What events can occur in and around the community? The likelihood that an event will occur. The consequences of the event in terms of casualties, destruction, disruption to critical services, and costs of recovery. To be successful, mitigation measures must be developed into an overall mitigation strategy that considers ways to reduce hazard losses together with the overall risk from specific hazards and other community goals.
Direction & Control: The system for managing resources, analyzing information, and making decisions in an emergency. Analyze the situation and decide how to respond Direct and coordinate response forces Use available resources efficiently and effectively Communications: Direct emergency responders in an emergency Establish, use, maintain, augment and provide backup for all types of communication devices Warning : Make available information to ensure that emergency responders and the public take appropriate protective actions to avoid death, injury, and damage to property. Public Information: Distribute accurate and timely information to the public regarding mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Evacuation : Protect the population in a safe and orderly fashion in an emergency Mass Care: Temporary shelter, food, medical care, clothing and other bare necessities Health & Medical: Emergency medical Hospital Public Health Environmental health Mental health Mortuary services Resource management: Complete picture of available resources is known to decision makers All resources are used appropriately and arrive where and when they are most needed Additional resources can be secured Accountability is maintained
The State of Kansas: Will gather damage information Augment local resources Request federal assistance, if necessary Governor implements State Emergency Operations Plan
Services Unit Communications Unit This unit is responsible for all communication aspects of SEOC operations. Incoming calls and emails will be distributed by this unit to the appropriate location or email. In addition, this unit will field and collect information for ALL resource requests. Information Technology This unit will be responsible for operations concerning networking and hardware issues. The unit will assure: Computer log in capability Appropriate drive capability Network connectivity Hardware concerning network and telephone capability Note: Please see the attachment “SEOC Communications” for the procedures for the following areas: State computer log-in instructions KDEM webmail access SEOC Operation/business incoming email protocol Phone usage instructions Incoming call protocol Cox computer usage Both internal (KDEM) and external (partner agencies) procedures are provided. Support Unit Supplies This unit provides ESF 7—Resource management support. The primary responsibility for this unit is to assure requests are filled when respective ESF units are unable to fill request with available resources. This unit will search existing state contracts to fill such requests and draft new emergency contracts, if and when they are needed. Resource Status This unit provides the quality assurance in the logistics process. When resources are tasked to the respective ESF or supplies (ESF 7) this unit assures requests are filled in a timely manner and provides updates on resource status. In a nut shell, this unit is designed to make sure no requests fall through the cracks. Resources (Log chief) Responsibilities include the functionality of above mentioned sections. Responsibilities unique to log chief: Assign mission numbers Prioritize missions Send to appropriate ESF to fill request Resource request procedure/process The process will work as follows: Calls incoming for resource request answered by communications Information collected on resource request/mission tasking form by communications Mission tasking form delivered to log chief for prioritization, mission tasking number and assignment to ESF Appropriate ESF attempts to fill request If the request can be filled, the ESF fills request and updates resource status unit on status If request cannot be filled, request flows to supplies unit to search for existing contracts OR drafting of emergency contract. Supplies unit updates resource status unit on status of request Log chief will supply plans with mission status for situation report
Emergency Support Functions: Provide information to the decision-makers Interpret and predict needs Support overall mission of the EOC thru own assets, statutes, and authorities Obtain resources Life safety and protection of property Intelligence gathering