1. Origins and Implications
Principles of Emergency Management

2. Session Objectives
Describe the barriers to defining a common set of principles for emergency management and Homeland Security.
Discuss the development of the current set of principles and their strengths and weaknesses.

3. Session Objectives
Identify the similarities and differences between Homeland Security and emergency management.
Discuss how the principles could be adapted for use in both emergency management and Homeland Security.

4. Student Activity
Define what is meant by a “principle”

5. Possible Definitions Webster’s New World Dictionary Other definitions
A fundamental truth, law, doctrine, or motivating force upon which others are based
Other definitions
A basic truth or law or assumption
A rule or standard especially of good behavior
A basic generalization that is accepted as true and can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct

6. Definition of Principles
No easy answers
“research indicates that many if not most hazard, disaster, emergency management and related organizations have difficulty deciding what a “principle” is as opposed to a goal, value, strategy, practice, philosophical orientation, task, objective, core topic, etc.” Ian Davis

7. Reasons for Divergence in Definitions
Differences in fundamental values and organizational mandates
Addressing disaster management from different operational perspectives
Working in different parts of the disaster management spectrum

8. Student Activity
Given the three reasons for divergence, what differences might exist between emergency management and homeland security?

9. Points of Divergence Emergency Management Homeland Security
Values & Mandates
Relieve suffering through mitigation and response
Operational Perspectives
Response is a phase
Spectrum
Mitigation and recovery share equal weight with response
Values and Mandates
Detect and deter terrorism
Operational Perspectives
Response is an end in itself
Spectrum
Response-centric
Prevention is different from mitigation

10. Other Points of Divergence
Emergency managers favor an all-hazards approach; homeland security favors scenario-based planning
Emergency managers recognize the need for both formal and informal response mechanisms; homeland security favors a centralized coordinating system.

11. Other Points of Divergence
Emergency managers are moving towards standards-based programs; homeland security has no standards on which to base programs.
Emergency managers are moving towards evidence-based planning based on fifty years of research literature; homeland security is a new discipline with a limited knowledge base.

12. Student Activity Discuss: Why are principles important?
What value can they add to an organization?

13. Why Are Principles Important?
Allow for the creation of more coherent sets of policies and procedures.
Provide an ethical base for action.
Guide various elements in disaster planning and implementation.

14. Origins of the POEM Project
from IAEM President Mike Selves to Wayne Blanchard
Lack of understanding of what emergency managers do.
Emergency management lacked a definition and a strong theoretical underpinning.
An accepted set of principles could be used to educate federal employees and elected officials

15. Origins of the POEM Project
Blanchard at the direction of Cortez Lawrence, EMI Director convenes working group
Working group identifies eight principles and a definition and vision for EM
Work group members gain adoption of the principles by major EM organizations

16. Principle Hierarchy
Level 1. Ethical, Core Value Principles, which relate to the underlying shared beliefs and concerns of organizations
Level 2. Strategic Principles that concern policy direction will be informed and be based upon the ethical principles articulated in Level 1

17. Principle Hierarchy
Level 3. Tactical Principles that concern the practical outworking of the strategic principles
Level 4. Implementation Principles that are related to all the preceding levels: core values, strategies and tactics

18. Student Activity
Where does the current Principles of Emergency Management fall within the principle hierarchy?
What are the implications of being at this level?
What are the implications for accomplishing lower levels?

19. Emergency Management
Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters.

20. Homeland Security “Eco-system”
Terrorism
All Hazards
Terrorism and Catastrophes
Jurisdictional Hazards
Meta Hazards
National Security
Security above All

21. Alternative Definitions
Emergency management
local government function dedicated to preserving life and property.
focused on science, facts, and the environment
Homeland security
Federal government function that looks externally and targets organizations and individuals who are threats to the US.
focused on people, beliefs and ideology.

22. Student Activity
Identify commonalities between emergency management and homeland security.

23. Commonalities Mitigation Preparedness Core component of EM
Prevention key focus of HS, some limited mitigation
Preparedness
EM focuses on increased capacity through building community resilience
HS focus builds operational capabilities

24. Commonalities Response Recovery
EM focuses on relief to victim suffering
HS focuses on restoring critical infrastructure and investigation
Recovery
EM focuses on community restoration for all events
HS focuses on catastrophic events

25. Student Activity
Given the divergence between the two disciplines and the differences even where they have areas in common, can the Principles of Emergency Management be adapted to guide both?

26. Conclusion
Emergency management and homeland security share many commonalities, suggesting that it may be possible to develop a common set of principles.
In many cases, there is congruence at the higher strategic level but considerable divergence at the operational and implementation levels.

27. Conclusion
Despite these similarities, however, there are differences in the fundamental frame of reference for each discipline that may preclude the use of the Principles of Emergency Management as they currently exist.
Modifying the current Principles may well degrade their utility to the emergency management community.