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Copyright 1998 by Walter G. Green III.
How do emergency services agencies relate to the government of their jurisdiction? ... and to the citizens? We have been considering our organizations as if they were independent and autonomous. In reality no emergency services organization is; all have some element of supervision by government (even if that supervision is neglected), and must be responsive to the needs of their customers. This means we must be ready to address structural and political issues about how we provide service, both internally within government or our corporations (for business continuity professionals) and externally to our customers. Emergency services organizations are political animals, remembering that politics is not a bad thing, but rather the grease that makes democratic government function.
At the end of this session each student will be able to:
(1) Identify whether his or her jurisdiction is best served by a paid, combination, or volunteer model.
(2) Describe the way in which emergency services are delivered in his or her community (whether single service, public safety model, etc.).
(3) Analyze political issues applicable to an emergency service.
(4) Determine whether political issues are internal or external and suggest potential impacts from either on the organization.
During this session read the following material:
(1) Local newspapers. Locate an article dealing with a political issue that may impact how emergency services are delivered in your community or organization.
(2) Four mini-lectures delivered by the instructor through the List Server.
Everyone answer three of the following five questions (one e-mail to the listserve per question, and make sure you include a subject line that identifies which question you are answering). You may answer them in any order you wish. Remember also to read and comment on at least two answers to questions by your fellow students.
(1) How are emergency services provided in your community? Which agencies are paid and which volunteer? Are any combination agencies? Address law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services.
(2) How are the emergency services organized in your community or corporation? Are they single services, separate from each other, or is there some degree of integration? And to whom do they report in the jurisdiction's government or in the company?
(3) Based on your readings of the daily press, what is a current political issue that may impact how emergency services are delivered?
(4) Which do you feel have a greater impact on an emergency service, internal or external political issues? How, and why?
(5) Do you think that governmental emergency management is well served by the way it is generally staffed and managed in Virginia?