Emergency preparedness is crucial to maintaining quality operations in any given service setting.
Emergency preparedness:
This page outlines the steps in creating a robust emergency preparedness plan for any type of service setting.
The Safety for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Autism white paper developed by ODP’s Emergency Planning and Continuity Workgroup (EPCWG) provides in-depth, step-by-step, instruction for best emergency planning practices. ODP recommends downloading and reviewing the document before beginning emergency planning and hazard vulnerability assessment.
A Hazard Vulnerability Assessment is:
ODP has developed the Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Tool to help service settings of any type assess their exposure to a variety of natural, human-made, or technological hazards. The tool can be used to minimize risk and develop emergency preparedness plans for your service setting.
Instructions for using the HVA Tool are available to download at the following link:
The video below is a walkthrough of the HVA Tool. Below the video, instructional slides are available to download.
The FEMA National Preparedness System outlines an organized process for everyone in the whole community to move forward with their preparedness activities and achieve the emergency preparedness goals.
The Preparedness Toolkit is an online portal that can be useful for developing a robust emergency preparedness plan based on risks identified by the HVA.
Once an emergency preparedness plan has been developed, it is important to play out emergency scenarios in controlled exercises before a real emergency occurs. Scenario exercises reduce the need for impromptu decision-making by allowing all participants to understand their roles and assignments before an emergency presents itself. Exercises also allow for evaluation and improvement of preparedness plans.
The Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) provides resources for conducting your exercise and evaluating its efficiency.
To learn how to strengthen your organization’s disaster readiness, contact ODP’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Daniel Miller at danielm@pa.gov today. Don’t wait for a crisis—begin the discussion now!