EMAP Releases 2013 Emergency Management Standard

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Jan. 24, 2014 - PRLog -- The Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) releases the 2013 version of the Emergency Management Standard today for public use.

The Emergency Management Standard is a scalable yet rigorous industry standard for Emergency Management Programs. The Standard is flexible in design so that programs of differing sizes, populations, risks, and resources can use it as a blueprint for improvement and can attain compliance with the standard. The Standard was collaboratively developed in a series of working groups of emergency management stakeholders from government, business and other sectors, and continues to evolve to represent the best in emergency management. The Emergency Management Standard is revised on a three-year cycle that consists of committee collaboration within the EMAP Standard Subcommittee; a public comment period; and support from the EMAP Technical Committee that provides recommendations to the EMAP Commission. The formal process is based on the combination of EMAP and the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) policy and procedures.

This edition of the Emergency Management Standard incorporates revisions recommended to the EMAP Commission by the Technical Committee, based on public comments and proposals pursuant to ANSI Standards, as well as user input. The Emergency Management Standard will continue to evolve as new threats as well as improved practices and solutions for prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery emerge. Collaboration of all stakeholders is desired and encouraged by the EMAP Commission to keep the Emergency Management Standard current as a standard of excellence for all Emergency Management Programs. The standards are available on the EMAP website.

In addition to the standards, the EMAP releases the Applicant Guide to Accreditation to assist program representatives in the accreditation process. This guide is available to Programs who are subscribed to EMAP. Also available to subscribed programs will be resources, tools and webinars that focus on the standards and the intent for assessment.

EMAP is a voluntary accreditation process for emergency management programs that coordinate preparedness and response activities for disasters based on industry standards. The Emergency Management Standard creates a structure for strategic planning for improvement coupled with methodical, verified assessment by experienced peers from other jurisdictions, which results in stronger capabilities and accountability. The EMAP process evaluates emergency management programs on compliance with requirements in standards that include: planning, resource management, training, exercises, evaluations and corrective actions, and communications and warning. EMAP is the only accreditation process for emergency management programs.