What is Emergency Management?
Definition, Vision, Mission and Principles
Definition
Organized analysis, planning, decision-making and assignments of available resources to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from the effects of all hazards. The goals of emergency management are to: save lives, prevent injuries and protect property and the environment.
Vision
Our vision is for all public- and private-sector, non-governmental, and faith-based organizations to have effective contingency plans, necessary resources, and sufficient training for efficient and effective disaster resilience throughout Penobscot County.
Mission
The Penobscot County Emergency Management Agency will ensure, through coordination with federal, state, county, and local stakeholders, that the county is prepared to respond to, and recover from, all natural, technological, and human-caused emergencies. This office will provide the leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property through an all-hazards emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery throughout Penobscot County.
Principles
Emergency management must be:
- Comprehensive: emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
- Progressive: emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
- Risk-driven: emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
- Integrated: emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
- Collaborative : emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
- Coordinated: emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
- Flexible: emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
- Professional: emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continuous improvement.
