Response planning coordination between private and public entities improves emergency management capabilities. When establishing, updating, exercising, and implementing response plans, partnering with associated response participants will result in a more successful and streamlined implementation of emergency plans.
In a 2010 press release, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate stated, "There's no way government can solve the challenges of a disaster with a government-centric approach. It takes the whole team. And the private sector provides the bulk of the services every day in the community.”
When a disaster strikes at a company facility, a multi-agency response typically involves outside response groups and corresponding government agencies. Through collaborative planning, the following multifaceted concepts can be incorporated in a coordinated emergency management program:
- Proven and successful response models and best practices
- Effective tools and equipment from a variety of sources
- Training and exercises
The goal of multi-agency coordination is to prioritize and organize the need for critical resources, thereby assisting the coordination of the emergency response operations. A coordinated effort should consist of a combination of agreed upon elements including:
- Personnel
- Procedures
- Protocols
- Business practices
- Communications systems and methods
The most commonly used elements in a coordinated response are Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) and Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS). An EOC is a central command facility, activated to support response operations in the event of an incident.
According to FEMA, MAC Groups are typically comprised of administrators/executives, or their appointed representatives. MAC Groups may also be known as multi-agency committees or emergency management committees. There are seven common functions that MACS will generally perform during an incident:
- Assessment
- Prioritization
- Acquisition and allocation of critical resources
- Supporting relevant incident management policies and interagency activities
- Coordination with other MACS
- Coordination with elected and appointed officials
- Coordination of information