NU Online News Service, April 8, 1:08 p.m.EDT

The Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), said it has released arevised and updated version of "Characteristics of EffectiveEmergency Management Organizational Structures."

The book, PERI said, is designed to help emergency managersunderstand the responsibilities inherent in their jobs, whileproviding information regarding the expectations citizens have forlocal government.

Fairfax, Va.-based PERI is a nonprofit research institutefocused on risk management training and education.

"Characteristics of Effective Emergency ManagementOrganizational Structures" supplies a detailed checklist that canbe completed by the emergency manager to help answer the question:How prepared is your community to respond to a disaster?

The checklist was designed to allow the chief administrativeofficer to quickly determine the capabilities of the localemergency management organization and to identify areas that havethe potential for improvement.

After completing the checklist, the characteristics aredescribed further.

The 20 characteristics described in this publication are asfollows:

o Defined roles of elected officials.

o Strong and definitive lines of command.

o Similar routine/disaster organizational structures.

o Emergency management procedures are as close to routineoperational procedures as possible.

o Good interpersonal relationships.

o Emergency management planning is an ongoing activity.

o All hazard approach.

o Disaster prevention and mitigation.

o Motivation provided for involvement in the emergencymanagement program.

o Citizen involvement.

o Strong coordination among participating agencies.

o Public/private cooperation.

o Multiple use of resources.

o Public information function clearly defined.

o Ongoing monitoring for potential disasters.

o Internal alerting procedures.

o Ability to alert the public maximized.

o Active intergovernmental coordination.

o Ability to maintain comprehensive records during adisaster.

o Eligibility for state and federal subsidies considered.

PERI said the publication is a valuable tool that will helpemergency managers and chief administrative officers by providingclear guidance and realistic advice about how an effectiveemergency management organization is constructed.

"Characteristics of Effective Emergency ManagementOrganizational Structures" costs $30 and is available in the PERIBookstore. More details are online at www.riskinstitute.org/bookstore. www.riskinstitute.org.