Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
and the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) have
developed a readiness and capability assessment system for
State and local emergency managers. The result of this effort
is the Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR). All Hands
consultants have developed a comprehensive process and tool
for conducting the Capability Assessment for Readiness.
Our "Capability Assessment for Readiness (CAR)" service assesses
the operational capabilities of local government. Unlike many
systems, it is designed to focus on the identification of
deficiencies or a basis for corrective actions that need to
be taken in order to strengthen local government emergency
management programs. The assessment results will assist a
local government in establishing priorities and analyzing
program performance to improve the quality of local government
emergency management programs.
This assessment serves two purposes. First,
it provides local jurisdictions with baseline information
that can be used in program analysis and strategic planning.
Second, if implemented state-wide, it will foster the development
of a state emergency management baseline specific to that
state. This baseline could be further developed into state
minimum standards, that would allow local government and the
state to then set improvement goals and measure progress towards
this baseline in succeeding years. Perhaps the most significant
benefit of this progress is that it allows assessment results
to be tracked so that local and state emergency managers can
focus resources on the areas requiring the most improvement.
Our Capabilities We will evaluate the status
of your community program in detail to:
- Identify areas where improvements and further
development are needed
- Quantify results of this evaluation in measurable
term
- Produce a Strategic Workplan that includes
details on the priority, time frame for competition, staff
time and other costs for each program element
- Analyze existing work loads, i.e. time being
spent by existing professional staff on program elements.
Our CAR process can be easily customized...adding state-specific
program requirements. The process is in compliance with NFPA
1600 and other emerging standards - an important component
of professionalism and accreditation.
CAR is the new basis for our "Managing Emergency Operations
(MEO)" course and text (also known as "Blueprint for
Community Emergency Management") which has been updated and
re-written using CAR as the foundation. The new MEO text serves
as the automated CAR "HELP" manual.
Benefits
- Identify existing strengths and weaknesses.
- Evaluate the current state of readiness.
- Develop strategic plans to improve identified
weaknesses for terrorism and other threats.
- Justify existing program staffing and budget.
- Demonstrate the need for additional program
development resources, e.g. additional staff, budget, support
from other community agencies, etc.
- Support professional development and accreditation
programs.
CAR Elements
The following 13 Emergency Management Functions
(EMFs) comprise the elements of a community emergency management
program as prescribed by FEMA.
EMF 1 Laws And Authorities
EMF 2 Hazard Identification And Risk Assessment
EMF 3 Hazard Management
EMF 4 Resource Management
EMF 5 Planning
EMF 6 Direction, Control And Coordination
EMF 7 Communications And Warning
EMF 8 Operations And Procedures
EMF 9 Logistics And Facilities
EMF 10 Training
EMF 11 Exercises
EMF 12 Public Education And Information
EMF 13 Finance And Administration
A local "Emergency Management System Capability Assessment"
provides a common format for an assessment of local government
emergency management organizations, and allows state and local
emergency management agency staff, to communicate strengths
and areas needing improvement. The local government assessment
process seeks to answer three very basic questions:
- Is the emergency management program comprehensive for
the needs of the jurisdiction?
- Are goals, objectives and mission of the system being
achieved?
- Is local government able to utilize resources through
a strategic planning process?
Finally, local government must be able to meet the increased
demands that the public places on government during an emergency
or disaster. Expectations of the citizens that are served
by government must become the focus of emergency planning
and operations.
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