Response

Response is the set of activities that we take in order to deliver emergency services during a crisis.  These activities help reduces injuries and damage to property, and speed the recovery process.  A response will usually involve the set up of an incident command post (ICP).  This is usually done by the fire department or law enforcement.  The incident commander is usually the highest ranking first responder on the site, such as the Battalion Chief.  If the emergency is very large, requires a lot of coordination between several departments or agencies, or requires the support of other jurisdictions, we may activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in order to support the incident command post. 

Response to a disaster can take on many forms from coordinating the efforts of our first responders, to organizing an evacuation of some or the entire city and/or county, opening and managing temporary shelters, conducting damage assessments and coordinating debris removal. 

What you can do

The first hours of a disaster will be the hardest for us all.  Our first responders are dedicated and hard working but in a disaster, they will be taxed to their limits too.  Therefore, plan on managing on your own for the first several hours after disaster strikes.  This is where your planning and mitigation efforts pay off.  Exercise your home disaster plan and utilize your home disaster kits.  Practice your first aid/CPR skills if you have taken a certified course.  If you have joined a volunteer citizen group such as CERT, put your training into action.