Emergency management: Everyone plays a part Published Aug. 12, 2008 By Lt. Col. David Piech 30th Civil Engineer Squadron commander VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- As the 30th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, my readiness flight manages the base's emergency management program, but the effectiveness of Vandenberg's response to emergencies is dependent on the awareness and education of all our base personnel (military, civilians, dependents and contractors). It is a discipline that involves preparing for the emergency before it happens, responding to the emergency when it occurs, and supporting and rebuilding afterward. As seen historically with many other emergencies (9/11, the flooding in New Orleans, etc), preparedness needs to occur before the incident for an effective emergency response. If you are reading this article and don't know your shelter in place info or who your EM rep is, now's the time to educate yourself. Individual responsibility is paramount. As mentioned, the wing emergency management program is overseen by my readiness flight. We train unit EM representatives and equip them to implement their unit's program. Unit EM reps coordinate with the facility manager to ensure that shelter and evacuation locations are identified, practiced and advertised to the entire unit. In addition, the EM rep is responsible for educating their personnel and maintaining current reference materials, specifically 10-2, the Contingency Emergency Management Plan that provides key information on how Vandenberg manages its emergency response. A hot topic pertaining to emergency management is the "Shelter in Place" program. This program is very flexible to ensure that every unit can build something that works for them. It is critical that everyone in a facility knows where their designated shelter is located and how to access the shelter kit. Everyone needs to be able to conduct shelter actions in accordance with the unit-specific checklists. People need to know why they're being directed to shelter. For instance, if there is a known criminal on the loose with a gun, the priority is to get people inside and lock the doors and windows. Conversely, if there is a possible hazardous material issue, the immediate response will be to move to the shelter, turn off heating/ventilation systems and tape doors and windows. Personnel need to educate themselves on different scenarios and apply their best judgment and common sense based on any given scenario. Also important for EM is an organization's evacuation plan. Everyone needs to know their facility evacuation location, the primary and the alternate. The decision on which place to evacuate to will always be situation dependant. For instance, if a suspicious package is found, people should be directed to the evacuation point that is furthest from the package. EM is not black and white; it requires critical thinking and decisive action. EM will be an inspectable item, but its importance extends beyond the inspection. Emergency management is vital for our mission success and our personal safety. The effectiveness of the base's EM program is gauged by our ability to respond to real-world emergencies in an effective and decisive manner. Educate yourself and be confident in your ability to respond. Take charge should the situation arise. Emergency management is everyone's responsibility!