Preparing for emergencies doesn’t only involve getting the right supplies and essential things to get you through unexpected situations. You also need to know how to manage emergencies when they occur.

Most people panic and go into shock during emergencies. This may only expose you to more harm and lead to loss of valuable time. An organized and timely response makes a difference in any emergency situation.

The steps for managing different emergencies include:

Step 1 – Create a Planning Team

There should be groups and people to oversee the development of an emergency management plan. The size of the planning team will depend on the resources available, requirements, and tasks. Opting for a group may be a better idea because it aids participation, increases the group’s efficiency, and gives a wider perspective on managing situations.

However, ensure the team has active members and people serving as advisors. The emergency management team should have people handling key functions. Establish authority in the group and set goals to ensure team members are on the same page.

Step 2 – Analyze Hazards and Capabilities

This step involves gathering information about the current situation and assessing the extent of damage to determine aspects that need attention and the urgency of each situation. Identifying the internal and external resources at your disposal is also important because it helps to manage the available resources properly.

It is important to identify all emergencies during the analysis phase and what may still go wrong to mitigate further damage.

Step 3 – Develop the Management Plan

The emergency management plan should take into consideration all factors identified during analysis and the capabilities of people on the emergency management team. You can assign tasks to specific people to ensure accountability from everyone involved and better result.

The key elements in the plan should cover life safety, communication, property protection, recovery, and restoration. An emergency management plan with a response procedure is also important to respond to emergencies.

If possible, develop the response as a series of checklists to assess the progress of the situations easily. Develop the purpose of the plan and set timeframes to accomplish tasks. You can modify the timeline when the emergency management plan is in motion.

Step 4 – Implement the Plan

Implementing the emergency management plant goes beyond exercising the plan. It also means acting on the recommendation and issues identified during analysis.

For a successful plan implementation, people should know their responsibilities and roles. Reliable and effective communication plans are also important for easily disseminating information. Nothing disrupts the execution of a well-thought-out emergency management plan like poor communication.

Evaluate the plan and modify necessary areas during the execution of the emergency management plan. Ensure that members of the management team deliver on their responsibilities and understand what they need to do. Have a record of tasks completed for accountability.

During the plan implementation, ensure the larger group members get updated on the progress made. This eases the tension and makes everyone feel safe.