Emergency Management Approaches
Emergency management is a range of measures to manage risks to communities and the environment. These measures are described by the:
Each of these approaches is guided by a set of concepts and principles. To find out more about these concepts and principles, go to the Australian Emergency Manual series.
Comprehensive Approach
Comprehensive emergency management concerns strategies for risk assessment, prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. It is not enough to wait for emergencies to occur and then react; risks to the community and the environment must be managed in a rational manner.
To find out more about the different aspects of emergency management, select from the options below.
- Preparing for Emergencies
- Preventing Emergencies
- Responding to Emergencies
- Recovering from Emergencies.
These four stages are often referred to as PPRR.
It is important to note that these activities are not ‘linear’ and independent of each other. While preparedness and response activities and measures are closely related and sequential, recovery follows the impact of an event. The comprehensive approach to emergency management requires that PPRR programs be effectively integrated.
All Hazards Approach
The all hazards approach concerns arrangements for managing the large range of possible effects of risks and emergencies. This concept is useful to the extent that a large range of risks can cause similar problems and such measures as warning, evacuation, medical services and community recovery will be required during and following emergencies.
Many risks will, however, require specific response and recovery measures and will almost certainly require specific prevention and mitigation measures.
All Agencies Approach
All agencies should be involved to some extent in emergency management. The context of emergency management for specific agencies varies and may include:
- ensuring the continuity of their business or service
- protecting their own interests and personnel
- protecting the community and environment from risks arising from the activities of the organisation
- protecting the community and environment from credible risks.
Emergency management measures may be referred to in a number of organisational and community contexts, including risk management, environmental management, occupational health and safety, quality management, and asset management.
To find out some of the organisations involved in emergency management, visit the Partner Organisations and Agencies and Strategic Partnerships pages.
Prepared Community
The concept of the prepared community concerns the application of the comprehensive, all hazards and all agencies approaches at the local level (typically at local government level).
For more information on community involvement in emergency management, visit the Community Engagement or Volunteers pages.