Policy & Management Framework

4. Emergency management protocols – B.4 Pre-emergency readiness

For help contact:

CARE Emergency Group (CEG)
Head of Emergency Operations
Telephone: + 41 22 795 10 23 Email: emergencyoperations@careinternational.org 

Process leader:
Country Director

Process involvement:
Country Office ERT; Lead Member Line Manager and Emergency Director; CI Emergency Response Director; CI Operations Manager; REC; Media Coordinator; Human Resources Coordinator; ERWG; COMWG

A. Purpose

This protocol outlines the key actions to be taken when early warning information suggests a very high likelihood and/or at the onset of a humanitarian emergency. These actions are to increase CARE's readiness and establish contingency measures to be able to respond to the crisis in a timely and effective manner, and with the appropriate quality and scale.

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B. Policy

Actions taken at the onset of an emergency are critical in determining the timeliness and effectiveness of the emergency response.

CARE COs, with support from the Lead Member and the CEG, are expected to take quick and decisive actions to ensure the overall readiness of CARE for a potential emergency response. These actions are to be based on CO emergency preparedness plans (EPPs), which should be adjusted to the anticipated or unfolding emergency.

Assessment, contingency and response planning, preparedness, implementation, and monitoring are continuous and overlapping processes throughout the emergency cycle. Therefore, some of the steps below have to take place at the same time and should be repeated, potentially several times, during preparedness and the actual response.

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C. Instructions

1.         Procedure and accountabilities for pre-emergency readiness

Action

Responsible

Involved

Approval

Timing

1. Alert CI:
Alert Lead Member, CEG and CISSU, and/or Lead Member Security Director to the potential or unfolding emergency (refer to protocol B3 Emergency alerts ).

Country Director

Lead Member Line Manager and Emergency Director; CI Operations Manager

CI Emergency Response Director

Immediately upon receipt of early warning or emergency information (within 24 hours)

2. Activate ERT: Activate CO emergency response team (ERT).

Country Director

CO ERT and senior staff

Lead Member Line Manager

Immediately upon receipt of early warning or emergency information (within 24 hours)

3. Staff safety:
Alert all CO staff; ensure safety of CARE staff and assets by analysing potential impact of emergency and take precautionary measures to mitigate (refer to protocol C1 Safety and security ).

Country Director

 

Lead Member Security Director; Country Office senior staff, Safety and Security Officer (SSO), ERT CI Safety and Security Unit (CISSU) Director

Lead Member Line Manager

Immediately upon receipt of early warning or emergency information (within 24 hours)

4. Community and local authorities:
Share alert information with potentially affected population and authorities, particularly in areas of CARE operations and where communities have access to alerts.

CO ERT

CO staff

Country Director

Immediately upon receipt of early warning or emergency information (within 24 hours)

5. External communications: Contact peer agencies and relevant authorities for a common understanding on the potential humanitarian impact and response planning (share roles and responsibilities).

Country Director in-country; CI Operations Manager at international level

CO ERT; Regional Emergency Coordinator (REC); Lead Member Emergency Director

Lead Member Line Manager; CI Emergency Response Director

Immediately upon receipt of early warning or emergency information (within 24 hours)

6. Review EPP plan and develop contingency plans:
Convene ERT (if possible, together with partner organisations) to review EPP and develop contingency plan:

  • Review scenarios and develop likely scenario based on real-time early warning information.
  • Anticipate overall response, response by other stakeholders and gaps in humanitarian service.
  • Adjust preliminary response plans based on needs and service gaps.
  • Determine resource requirements.
  • Review resource availability: HR, relief items, equipment, financial resources.
  • Determine resource and capacity gaps and requirements.

Country Director

CO ERT; REC; CI Operations Manager; Lead Member Emergency Director

Lead Member Line Manager; CI Emergency Response Director

After above steps (usually within 24 to 48 hours)

7. Initiate resource mobilisation:
Identify resource and capacity gaps and requirements. Launch local mobilisation and request assistance from Lead Member, CEG and others as needed: 

  • HR: Determine HR requirements. Review national staff roster. Send list and draft TORs for international staff to Lead Member and CEG HR.
  • Physical resources: Anticipate procurement requirements. Contact suppliers. Review pre-supply arrangements for purchase, transport and storage. Request Lead Member and CEG for international support.
  • Funding requirements: Develop preliminary emergency response strategy with draft budget. Send to Lead Member and CEG. Develop proposal concepts and contact key donors.

Country Director

CO ERT; REC; CI Operations Manager; Lead Member Emergency Director; Lead Member and/or CEG HR Coordinator; Lead Member and/or CEG Logistics Specialists

Lead Member Line Manager; CI Emergency Response Director

Usually within 48 hours (depending on speed of onset/unfolding of emergency)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In first week

 

 

 

8. Initiate CI support: Communicate emergency strategy and resource requirements to CI membership.

CI Operations Manager

Country Director; CO ERT; REC; Emergency Response Working Group (ERWG); CEG staff

CI Emergency Response Director

Immediately upon receipt from CO

9. Initiate media strategy:
Develop initial media plan. Seek advice from Lead Member and CEG media staff. Draft press release, talking points, etc. Contact appropriate local media. Disseminate media plans to CI members through COMWG.

Country Director in-country; CI Media and Information Coordinator at international level

Country Office ERT and press officer; Regional and Lead Member press officers; REC; Lead Member Line Manager and Emergency Director; COMWG

Lead Member Communications Director; CI Emergency Response Director

Usually within 48 hours (depending on speed of onset/ unfolding of emergency)

10. Activate CO emergency support procedures: 
Activate emergency procedures in programme support departments of the CO (for example, simplified recruitment/ procurement procedures, etc.)

Country Director

CO ERT; REC; CI Lead Member and CEG support members (HR, logistics, etc.)

Lead Member Line Manager

As appropriate

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D. Endnotes

 1. CARE's emergency preparedness planning guidelines should be referred to as the starting point and for further details of contingency planning.

2. Dates, times and issues arising from activation of these and other steps should be recorded and reported for monitoring of emergency response performance.

3. Related protocols:

B1 Emergency preparedness planning (EPP)
B2 Early warning
B3 Emergency alerts
C1 Safety and security
C2 Needs assessment
C3 Capacity assessment
C4 Operational risk assessment

C5 Response decision-making
C6 Response initiation

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Last Updated: 17/07/2009

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