Emergency Management: Trust and Compliance

846 Words2 Pages

In order to protect citizens, infrastructure, business and property, Governors have to perform pivotal responsibilities. In case of a disaster emergency, the Governor which is also the chief executive is responsible for the adequate response of any type of emergency such as human caused, natural or technological incidence1. The performance of a successful emergency response requires from the Governor good communication and relationship with the respective governmental agencies, community, private-sector and institutions2. Therefore, because the Governor should respond to the citizens who voted for him, he should be responsible for maintaining stakeholders always engaged in the public’s health and emergency responses.

According to the Emergency Management Services Code 35 Pa. C.S.A. § 7101-7707, the Governor is responsible of declaring a disaster emergency. In the case of Pittsburgh, although the Mayor can request a declaration of emergency, only the Governor can declare it once the local resources are depleted. If the Governor understands that a disaster has occurred or that a disaster is about to happen, he may issue a Declaration of Disaster Emergency for a period of 90 days. After these 90 days, the Declaration can be reactivated if is still needed3; although the general assembly by concurrent resolution may terminate the state of disaster emergency at any time. Once the Declaration of Disaster Emergency is made by the Governor, then the Commonwealth’s State Emergency Operation Plan (SEOP) is activated. Some of the functions of the SEOP are deployment of Commonwealth personnel and services, implementation of emergency funding measures and the distribution of supplies, equipment, material and other resources. If there are ...

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...h the consequences of any type of incident; to command and deploy the National Guard; to coordinate assistance from other States through interstate mutual aid and assistance compacts, such as the Emergency Management Assistance Compact; to request appropriate Federal assistance when the State capabilities will be insufficient or have been exceeded and to coordinate with impacted tribal governments within the State and initiate requests for a Stafford Act Presidential declaration of an emergency or major disaster on behalf of an impacted tribe when appropriate3.

Works Cited

URL’s

1. http://www.pfesi.org/publication_files/pennsylvania-laws-relating-to-emergency-services.pdf

2. http://www.nga.org/files/live/sites/NGA/files/pdf/1011GOVGUIDEHS.PDF

3. http://www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us/ps/emergencymgt/assets/07_Emergency_Operations_Plan.pdf

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