Program Elements

The Tampa Office of Emergency Management program is organized within the framework contained in the National Response Plan (NRP). The NRP establishes a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents. The plan incorporates best practices and procedures from incident management disciplines - homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, firefighting, public works, public health, responder and recovery worker health and safety, emergency medical services, and the private sector - and integrates them into a unified structure. It forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. The program elements include those items developed to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies. The order of the program elements does not necessarily represent their importance or priority.

• Communications and Warning
• Laws and Authorities
• Crisis Communications, Public Education, and Information
•  Logistics and Facilities
• Direction, Control, and Coordination
• Operations and Procedures
• Exercises, Evaluations, and Corrective Actions
• Planning
• Finance and Administration
• Resource Management
• Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
• Training
• Hazard Mitigation

 Communications and Warning

Develop and maintain a reliable communications capability to alert public officials and emergency response personnel, warn the public, and effectively manage response to an actual or impending emergency or disaster.

Crisis Communications, Public Education, and Information

Disseminate and respond to requests for information before, during, and after an emergency or disaster. Provide information to employees, responders, the public, and the media. Develop, implement, and coordinate public education programs regarding hazards and preparedness.

Direction, Control, and Coordination

Develop the capability to direct, control, and coordinate citywide response and recovery operations.

Exercises, Evaluations, and Corrective Actions

Assess and evaluate emergency response plans and capabilities through a program of regularly scheduled tests and exercises. Take corrective steps as necessary.

Finance and Administration

Develop fiscal and administrative procedures designed to support emergency measures before, during, and after emergency or disaster events, and to preserve vital records.

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Identify situations or conditions that have the potential of causing injury to people, damage to property or the environment, and assess the likelihood, vulnerability, and magnitude of incidents that could result from exposure to hazards.

Hazard Mitigation

Eliminate hazards that constitute a significant threat, or reduce the effects of hazards that cannot be eliminated.

Laws and Authorities

Review and develop Federal, State, and local statutes, and implement regulations that establish legal authority for development and maintenance of the emergency maHTTP/1.1 100 Continue nagement program and organization, and define the emergency powers, authorities, and responsibilities of the Emergency Manager. Represent the Tampa Office of Emergency Management to Emergency Management professional organizations.

Logistics and Facilities

Identify, locate, acquire, distribute, and account for services, resources, materials, and facilities that support emergency management.

Operations and Procedures

Develop, coordinate, and implement operations, policies, plans, and procedures for response and recovery actions. These include tactical response plans, damage assessment plans, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs).

Planning

Develop, distribute, coordinate, and maintain comprehensive emergency management plans and procedures. Assist city departments and external organizations with emergency planning.

Resource Management

Develop methodologies for the prompt and effective identification, acquisition, distribution, accounting and use of personnel and major items of equipment for essential emergency functions.

Training

Assess, develop, and implement a training and educational program for Tampa’s emergency management team and emergency response personnel.