This National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) primer on all-hazards emergency management is intended to highlight for new governors, and their staff, the importance of maintaining a viable emergency management program.

It also provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the state emergency management agency and the resources and capabilities that exist to maintain a coordinated, statewide, emergency preparedness, response and recovery system.

The following list provides critical action items for new Governors:

• Meet with the state emergency management director as soon as possible.
• Request a briefing regarding current perceived public safety threats in your state.
• Evaluate the status of the state emergency management program.
• Know your role in your state?s emergency management program and structure, the process for declaring a state of emergency, and requesting a presidential disaster declaration.
• Familiarize yourself with the governor?s emergency authorities.
• Visit the state emergency operations center and see firsthand how the response to a disaster is managed.
• Request an in-depth briefing on the disaster response expectations of citizens and state and local officials.
• Consider utilizing the criteria for appointing a state emergency management director that is available from the National Emergency Management Association, National Governors? Association and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The following topics are included im a primer:

• All-Hazards Emergency Management
• The Price of Preparedness
• States Helping States
• NEMA as a Resource

Download If Disaster Strikes Today Now.