| 1. |
How long has this program been operational?Month: April Year: 1991
|
| |
|
| 2. |
What are the major purposes of this program? What problem(s) or
issue(s) was it designed to address?
|
| |
|
| |
Discussions about a need for a cross-discipline, public and private
sector forum for the discussion of issues related to emergency management began in March
of 1990. A follow-up meeting crystallized the concept in November of1990. The Benton
County Emergency Management Council (BCEMC) was formally created
in April, 1991 - formed
as a community partnership to explore and expand a
goal for Benton County to be a safer
and more hazard resilient community.
|
| |
|
| 3. |
Describe the specific activities and operations of the program. |
| |
|
| |
The Benton County Emergency Management Council views its mission as
an on-going and incremental process of making the community safer and more
resilient
following a disaster. The BCEMC embraces all phases of emergency management: Mitigation,
Preparedness, Response and Recover and chooses its initiatives carefully based upon risk
assessment, community priority, strategic opportunity and organizational commitment. |
| |
|
| |
Four sub-committees support the efforts of the full council: |
| |
|
| |
- Plans,
- Training and Exercise,
- Logistics: facilities and equipment, and
- Public Education
|
| |
|
| |
In addition, the BCEMC has a public Information Officer function
(team of EMI-trained staff). |
| |
|
| |
The BECMC Advisory Group is comprised of: Administrators of the
participating Departments and Agencies, Mayors, Editors, Superintendents, General Mangers,
Non-Profit Directors, etc. of those organizations involved in the council. The Advisory
Group meets twice a year to review and reaffirm the gals and
objectives of the Council. |
| |
|
| |
Members of the Advisory Group are ultimately responsible for having
plans and programs regarding mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for their
participating organizations. BCEMC, therefore, looks to them for assistance
with financing
of, among other things, public education programs, mitigation options, preparedness steps,
and the science behind the need to prepare. |
| |
|
| 4. |
Does this
program take a new and creative approach or method? If yes, please
describe. |
| |
|
| |
The Benton County Emergency Management Council is a public and
private partnership for preparedness and mitigation. It exists because the Council
believes that there is a need for total community involvement and action in
order to
effectively mitigate, save lives, reduce property loss, and lessen
social and economic
disruption. |
| |
|
| |
A unique feature of the BCEMC is that it was created and is chaired
by a
citizen of the community who reaches out to include many in the partnership.
Representatives on the council include many members of public and private organizations. |
| |
|
| 5. |
What were
the program’s start-up costs and source(s) of
funding? |
| |
|
| |
There is no formal budget of the Benton County Emergency Management
Council. Work of the Council is largely funded by participating agencies,
donations and
the Benton County Sheriff’s Office/Emergency Management
Division budget on an
as-needed basis. Ongoing staff support comes from the Benton County Emergency Management
Division and their volunteers, which
has included the integral thesis work of two Oregon
State University graduate students. |
| |
|
| 6. |
How many
employees (full-time equivalent) work(ed) with this
program? 1.6 FTE |
| |
|
| 7. |
To the best
of your knowledge, did this program originate in your state? Yes |
| |
|
| 8. |
Has the
program been fully implemented? Yes |
| |
|
| |
If No, what actions remain to be taken? |
| |
|
| 9. |
How has the
program changed since its inception? What limitations or obstacles
might other states expect to encounter if they attempt to adopt this
program? |
| |
|
| |
The BCEMC is a living and dynamic organization that must change with
technology, understanding and priorities as they relate to disasters. This is
perhaps one
of the most important keys to its continued success as well as applicability in other
communities. |
| |
|
| |
There have been changes since the programs inception including: A
Vision Statement, Subcommittees, and a Benton County Emergency Management
Council Website.
Funding, in addition to participating staff time, is an ongoing challenge for the
activities of the council. |
| |
|
| 10. |
Additional
comments: |
| |
|
| |
The Benton County Board of Commissioners appreciates this
opportunity to
publicly acknowledge the partners and achievements of the Benton County
Emergency Management Council and sincerely hope that we have nurtured a
model that will be
as useful and productive for other communities as it has
been for our own. |
