9/11 Standardization

Words: 705
Pages: 3

The ability and speed at which first responders are able to take action in a man-made or natural disaster depends greatly on a solid plan of action. Though there are many aspects of emergency management, there are some areas that need a great deal of attention and others that do not. The most critical aspect of emergency management is standardized training which is applied at every phase from preparing, mitigating, and responding to disasters. America will never tolerate the colossal failure of local, state, and federal government’s response to the 9/11 attack.
First, standardization is the key to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). This standardization provides a solid framework for all levels of government to operate together.
…show more content…
Standardization along with implementation ensures the multitude of moving parts such as public transportation, medical services and first responder assets. Orchestration of these capabilities requires training, the capture of lessons, and then the analysis and implementation of standardized techniques. “Although Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani created the Office of Emergency Management in 1996 and spent nearly $25 million to coordinate emergency response, trade center officials said the agency had not conducted an emergency exercise there that included the Fire Department, the police and the Port Authority's emergency staff (Dwyer, Flynn, & Fessenden, 2002). Moreover, a plan that has never been rehearsed, is a plan that is destined for failure. There is a requirement to train to standard at every level of response, have standardized response packages, and a tested plan. The training and exercise execution is the most efficient method of standardization. This allows for all personnel involved to provide critical input and leaders should embrace failure, as through the process of what others thought to be a good idea, proved to unsuccessful.
In conclusion, the Emergency Management System provides a solid foundation and structure for all levels of emergency management. Training standardization is the catalyst to a successful response plan that creates the framework for success. Training comes with a very hefty monetary price, but the price of not training to standards will undoubtedly result in a catastrophic failure of the highest