 Emergency Preparedness
The Emergency Preparedness Department continues to serve as a convener, coordinator, and advocate for city and county governments, volunteer and non-profit agencies and private industry in North Central Texas to increase emergency preparedness capacity for the region. Deficiencies will continue to be identified and recommendations made through a broad representation of regional stakeholders. Regional emergency preparedness policies will be developed and implemented by the Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council and its technical subcommittees. Local, State and Federal funding and training opportunities will be aggressively sought out and coordinated while placing emphasis on collaboration and effective use of existing resources. Additional funding streams from the public and private sector will be leveraged where possible to enhance existing traditional homeland security grants.
The Emergency Preparedness Department also works closely with other NCTCOG Departments to fully realize the benefits of the talent and resources within the agency to address the following issues:
Major Issues
ISSUE: Local and County All-Hazards Emergency Management Plans and Integrated Regional Plans.
- Vision of Success:
Increase the development and updating of state approved emergency plans for local and county governments in a manner, which facilitates a regional approach to common problems, and results in an increased regional emergency preparedness capacity. Continue the development of regional multi-agency coordination and resource management plans for catastrophic events.
- Steps to Success:
- Identify funding opportunities to aid city and county governments in completing emergency planning documents.
- Work with local elected officials to increase the understanding and awareness of state statutory requirements for having an emergency management program which includes an approved emergency plan with accompanying legal documents.
- Assist city and county personnel responsible for completing plans and provide support and technical guidance when appropriate including assistance through the University of North Texas Emergency Administration and Planning internship program.
- Continue working with the Governors Division of Emergency Management, Texas Engineering Extension Service and regional stakeholders to fully develop a multi-agency coordination system (MACS) for catastrophic events.
- Work closely with Public Health and Medical agencies to assist urban and rural areas to address regional medical operations plans and public health plans and to ensure continuity with MACS planning and operations.
- Indicators of Success:
- Increased number of approved emergency plans listed in state Division of Emergency Management database.
- Increased participation and knowledge demonstrated by local elected officials regarding emergency management issues, planning concepts, and responsibilities.
- Increased participation by regional emergency managers in emergency management activities sponsored by NCTCOG.
- Completion and adoption of MACS & RMOC planning sections and training.
- Positive feedback from regional elected officials, emergency managers and the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
 ISSUE: Need for Continued Coordinated Emergency Preparedness Efforts Among Public, Private and Volunteer/Non-Profit Disciplines.
- Vision of Success: There should be well-established technical committees in each appropriate discipline that come together to address common regional issues and serve as subject matter experts when establishing regional priorities. Existing parallel efforts are identified and joint meetings, planning efforts and disaster drill exercises are convened. Activities are evaluated and gaps in preparedness are addressed. Memorandums of Understanding and Mutual Aid Agreements are formed between public and private agencies.
- Steps to Success:
- Identify all appropriate public, private, volunteer and non-profit agencies, including NCTCOG departments, involved in planning activities or projects which may contribute or enhance emergency preparedness activity in the region.
- Attend and participate in emergency planning meetings and forums to identify common efforts.
- Convene meetings between groups that are involved in similar efforts but reside in different geographical locations in the region.
- Create and maintain comprehensive distribution contact lists.
- Create and maintain regional electronic calendar informing stakeholders of meetings and training opportunities.
- Organize subject matter experts into discipline specific sub-committees for guidance in project and funding approvals and planning efforts.
- Indicators of Success:
- Increased level of participation by public, private, volunteer and non-profit agencies in emergency preparedness activities.
- Increased level of awareness by all agencies of the importance of regionalism in emergency preparedness.
- Increased requests for presentations on regional collaboration and emergency planning.
- Involvement in joint projects with other NCTCOG departments.
- Feedback from elected officials, city and county managers and the Emergency Preparedness Planning Council.
- Sub-committees are fully utilized in funding and planning initiatives.
- Funding streams with similar deliverables are combined and leveraged to realize economies of scale.
 ISSUE: Need for Increased Training and Equipment for All-Hazards Events and Maintenance of Resulting Programs.
- Vision of Success: Priorities for emergency preparedness related training continue to be identified, communicated and acted upon using existing resources and grant funding. A variety of low cost or no cost training is identified and coordinated by NCTCOG. Regional emergency preparedness capacity is increased and the need for state and federal government assistance is decreased. Plans are developed to maintain these programs in the absence of or in the event of reduced homeland security funding.
- Steps to Success:
- Communicate the findings in the Regional Strategies Document to regional stakeholders and elected officials.
- Identify funding opportunities, communicate those opportunities and assist local and county governments in completing grant applications.
- Assist state and federal agencies as requested in administering equipment and training grants.
- Raise awareness and encourage jurisdictions and supporting agencies to engage in long range planning for maintenance of equipment and training programs.
- Facilitate and encourage comprehensive participation in regional, state and federal exercises.
- Indicators of Success:
- Training opportunities are increased and well attended.
- Surplus equipment programs are identified and taken advantage of.
- Equipment grants are completed and cities and counties receive detection, decontamination and personnel protective equipment including interoperable communications equipment.
- State and Federal training and exercise standards are met by all appropriate agencies.
- Protocols and standards are further developed for use of equipment and response and recovery systems for regional emergencies and disasters.
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