Preparedness is a shared responsibility in the Whole Community; it calls for the involvement of everyone — not just the government — in preparedness efforts. 

Whole Community includes:

• Individuals and families, including those with access and functional needs
• Businesses
• Faith-based and community organizations
• Nonprofit groups
• Schools and academia
• Media outlets
• All levels of government, including state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal partners

A community’s ability to respond to or recover from a disaster depends on the level of preparedness of every member. However, a Citizen Corps National Survey found that 29 percent of Americans have not prepared because they think that emergency responders will help them and that over 60 percent expect to rely on emergency responders in the first 72 hours following a disaster. The reality is that in a complex disaster, first responders and emergency workers may not be able to reach everyone right away. In addition, providers may not be able to restore critical services, such as power, immediately. By working together, everyone can help keep the nation safe from harm and help keep it resilient when struck by hazards, such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and pandemics.

Community preparedness is a key priority in lessening the impact of disasters. It is critical that all community members take steps to prepare in advance of an event. Effective community preparedness occurs at all levels including:

• Government

• Public and Private Sectors

• Neighborhood

• Individuals and Households

Government has the responsibility to:

• Develop, test, and refine emergency operations plans.

• Ensure emergency responders have adequate skills and resources and provide services to protect and assist their citizens.

• Involve the community in the planning process.

• Provide reliable, actionable information.

• Encourage training, practicing, and volunteer programs.

Government emergency service providers include:

• Emergency Management: Prepares for and coordinates response and recovery to disasters.

• Law Enforcement: Maintains law and order.

• Fire and Rescue: Protects life and property.

• Emergency Medical Services: Provides preventative and emergency medical services.

• Public Works: Maintains and repairs infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water, sewage, utilities, etc.

• Human Services: Provides food, shelter, and counseling following a disaster.

The private and public sectors have a responsibility to participate in community preparedness.

• The private sector is a key partner in incident management activities at all levels. The private sector:

• Is responsible for most of the critical infrastructure (i.e., telephone services, banking) in the Nation and thus may require assistance in the wake of a disaster or emergency.
• Provides goods and services critical to the response and recovery process, either on a paid basis or through donations.

• Nongovernmental and voluntary organizations are essential partners in responding to incidents. Nongovernmental and voluntary organizations assist in providing:

• Sheltering, emergency food supplies, counseling services, and other vital services to support response and promote the recovery of disaster victims.
• Specialized services that help individuals with special needs, including those with disabilities.

Individuals and households play an important role in the overall emergency management strategy by:

• Reducing hazards in and around their homes.

• Preparing an emergency supply kit and household emergency plan.

• Monitoring emergency communications carefully.

• Volunteering with an established organization.

• Enrolling in emergency response training courses.

All members of the community should:

• Learn about community alerts and warnings, evacuation routes, and how to get critical information.

• Take training in preparedness, first aid, and response skills.

• Practice skills and personal plans through periodic drills in multiple settings.

• Network and be able to help others.

• Participate in community feedback opportunities.

• Report suspicious activity.

• Volunteer.

Citizen Corps is the grassroots movement to strengthen community safety and preparedness through increased engagement of all sectors of the community. Citizen Corps is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but implemented locally. The goal of Citizen Corps is to make communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents occur.

Citizen Corps Councils bring government and community leaders together to ensure emergency plans more effectively reflect the community. The goals of the Councils are to:

• Tailor activities to reach all sectors of the community.

• Identify and build on existing strengths.

• Increase collaboration between government and community.

• Expand integration of community resources into plans and protocols.

• Encourage personal/organizational preparedness through outreach, training, and exercises.

• Promote volunteer opportunities for ongoing community safety and surge capacity in disasters.

Preparedness requires active participation from all.

• Start the process by talking to your friends and family about the hazards in your area and what steps you all need to take to be able to help each other in a crisis – large or small.

• Ask about emergency planning at your workplace, your schools, your place of worship, and other social settings.

• Make sure government officials have a plan and are connected to community authorities on emergency management and planning.

• Consider volunteer opportunities to get your community better prepared for any emergency, including:

• Become a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member. The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may affect their area. The program trains team members in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

• Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. For more information go to: https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

• Volunteer with a nonprofit organization and be trained before the next disaster. There are many organizations and faith-based groups in your community that have active disaster programs and need volunteers. The following groups offer a wide range of services following a disaster:

• http://www.nvoad.org/

• http://www.serve.gov/

• http://www.citizencorps.gov/

• http://handsonnetwork.org/

• http://www1.networkforgood.org/

• http://www.redcross.org/en/volunteer

What is the Adopt-a-POD Program

What does the Program do?

The Adopt-a-POD Program does.

· Provide guidance (training should be provided locally).

· Support and emphasize partnerships between public governmental agencies and the private sector to include volunteer agencies, non­ governmental agencies (NGO), community-based organizations (CBO), faith based organizations and businesses.

· Maintain focus on all hazards disaster planning and management including terrorism.

· Require implementation and activation by local jurisdictions.

· Supplement current processes and procedures.

The Adopt-a-POD Program does not

· Guarantee POD locations and staff.

· Guarantee resources for POD operations or the resources provided to the public (food, water, etc).

· Replace any already existing or future programs or processes at the state or local jurisdiction.

State:

State Emergency Management Division

· Assign a Program Administrator

· Program Administrator

o Establish and maintain standard procedures and implementing instructions to provide a uniform, statewide implementation of the Adopt-A-POD Program

o Provide, maintain and update all forms and training material for the Adopt-A-POD Program

o Provide materials, information packets, signs, logos, and any other items or materials used to implement and promote the Statewide Adopt-A-POD Program

o Contact each participating jurisdiction a minimum of once a year to monitor the program.

o Provide safety information and training aids to the participating jurisdictions for training of participating organizations.

o Furnish a POD kit for each identified POD location.

Local Jurisdiction

· Abide by all terms and conditions of any POD Intergovernmental Agreement.

· Maintain the Adopt-A-POD Program at the local level.

· Recruit participating organizations.

· Ensure all participating organizations abide by the terms and conditions of the agreement.

· Identify POD staffs and register them as necessary. Background checks are at the discretion of the local jurisdiction.

· Provide representative(s) to attend POD Manager Training.

· Provide training for POD Managers.

Participating Organization

· Provide a designated POD Manager.

· Abide by all terms and conditions of any agreement.

· Provide training to all identified POD staff.

· Conduct a functional or full-scale exercise of the POD a minimum of once a year.

· Ensure the safety of all POD staff and customers.

· Maintain and store the organization's assigned POD kit.

POD Manager

· Attend the POD Manager Training provided by the State EMD or local jurisdiction.

· Provide training for all participants using the safety information and training aids provided by the Program Administrator and local jurisdiction.

· Ensure all POD Staff is properly accounted for during training, exercises and actual activations.

· Some emergencies or disasters will occur with enough warning that appropriate notification will be issued to ensure some level of preparation. Other situations will occur with no advanced warning.

· A Catastrophic Event or series of concurrent smaller events will require a vast amount of emergency resources in order to respond to the emergency needs of affected communities.

· Citizens, businesses, state agencies, and industries will provide their own resources for the first three days; however, the need may exist to provide a limited amount of life sustaining resources to the community due to loss of infrastructure.

· Local jurisdictions will comply with all administrative codes regarding the program and operation of PODs.

· Local and State-owned resources, including personnel, will be exhausted quickly in a catastrophic event.

· Points of Distribution will be needed at the local level to support the distribution of life sustaining supplies to the community.

· Military (Department of Defense, Reserve Forces, National Guard, and State Militia) resources may not be available to support operations due to other national security missions.

· Local jurisdictions may not have the personnel available to staff Points of Distribution due to other emergency response roles and responsibilities.

· Citizens and businesses will be interested in supporting their communities by participating in this program.

Participation from jurisdictions

Any city, county, or tribal jurisdiction within the state may participate in the Adopt-a-POD program. To apply for participation, it is suggested that a jurisdiction provide a State POD Agreement Form. An example POD Organizational Agreement from the Washington State Emergency Management Division is included in this lesson.

The jurisdiction should identify the number of PODs by type and identify possible locations for PODs or at least identify the general areas of coverage needed. This information will help focus the jurisdiction to areas that require coverage.

Identify organizations to participate in the program.

· Promoting Sponsorship. Jurisdictions are encouraged to promote the Adopt-A-POD Program to identify potential participating organizations. This public outreach can include:

1. Letters to organizations

2. Newspaper Article

3. Community group meetings

· Sign-up. Upon identification of a participating organization, the following must be completed:

1. POD Agreement signed. A copy of the form is kept with the local jurisdiction.

2. POD Staff completes all necessary paperwork as defined by the state or local jurisdiction.

3. POD Kit is delivered, inventoried, and signed for.

4. One or two "POD Managers" are identified. These POD Managers should attend POD Training within three months of the agreement (as available).

· POD Manager Training. Jurisdictions will provide POD Manager Training.

· Bi-Annual Update. Upon completion of the two year obligation, if a participating organization wishes to renew their agreement, the local jurisdiction has the option of renewing the agreement. A new agreement will be signed and kept on file. If the participating organization does not wish to renew the agreement, the POD Kit will be returned to the jurisdiction.

Participation from organizations 

Organizations that wish to adopt a POD should contact their local emergency

management agency. The Organization can provide staff or staff and a location for the POD. The local emergency management agency makes the determination if the location fits the requirements as a POD and meets the intent of the jurisdiction's POD forecast model.

Upon notification that the POD site is suitable, the participating organization will identify a POD Manager, sign the Adopt-A-POD agreement, and pick up their POD Kit.