What Major Emergencies Could Affect Your Jurisdiction?

• Weather Emergencies

  • Hurricanes would naturally have the most extensive impact on the entire community. Even if your jurisdiction is not a coastal community, it could become a “Host Community” to evacuees from other parts of the State. This major influx of people has State and Local Emergency Management officials concerned about not only the impact of this new population on local service demand, but also the fear of people being caught on the roads during the severe weather that can accompany even a passing storm.
  • Tornadoes are the most feared weather phenomenon due to their lack of advance warning coupled with the severe damage and threat to life they can cause in such a short time. Their impact on local resources is dependent on how many tornadoes occur, where they touch down, and what path they take.
  • Severe Thunderstorm with High Winds are a regular occurrence in many states. Their severity varies generally on the time of year they are generated, But their damage and drain on emergency resources can be “Area Wide” in scope.

• Transportation Incidents affecting large populations

  • An Aircraft Crash On or Off an Airport would be an immediate drain on emergency resources. The prospect of a large jetliner going down in a populated neighborhood or a downtown area is a dread fear of emergency management and response personnel.
  • A Train Derailment or Truck Transport Accident with Chemical Release and/or Fire is always a concern due to the fact that railroads and major highways go through the center of the major urban areas of many cities. Any major accident could create a mass casualty incident or the need to move a large number of people out of harm’s way in a very short period of time.
  • A Passenger or School Bus Accident with Multiple Injuries is one of the most likely transportation accidents that can occur. This type of incident could commit a major portion of a jurisdiction’s “on duty” emergency resources immediately.

• Major Fire in a High Rise, or other High Life Hazard Occupancy

  • Any large area building or high rise such as a Hotel, Office Building, Retirement Community or Hospital could easily require all on-duty resources, the need to recall off-duty personnel, and the use of other jurisdictions for response.
  • Other Major Emergencies
  • Other major emergencies can range from wide area flooding to a terrorist attack. Each jurisdiction must prepare for each of these possibilities through their Emergency Management efforts. Public education and citizen involvement appear to be the most aggressive method of “disaster mitigation” available.