Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

What Is the Difference Between Emergency Response and Pre-Incident Plan?

  • By Len Karson
  • 09/01/17

Emergency situations come in many forms. While some are predictable (such as hurricanes and severe winter storms), others (such as tornadoes, active shooters, biohazard incidents) happen with little or no warning. In any of those cases, excellent emergency response is critical to saving lives and property.

We are often asked, or find ourselves needing to clarify, the difference between an emergency response plan and a pre-incident plan. An emergency response plan defines the roles, responsibilities and procedures that need to go into effect during an emergency. It should include evacuation and lock-down procedures, as well as focus on communications processes both internally and with external parties. Regularly scheduled drills also are essential for optimum preparation.

The pre-incident plan (or pre-plan) is a tool that centralizes all critical building and property information required by first responders so they can act with knowledge. This should include site plans, floor plans, hazardous material details, locations of utility shut-offs and fire hydrants, geographical maps and other critical building and infrastructure details. Hosted either by property management or a municipal fire department, an up-to-date plan is essential to reduce the risk to occupants, responders and the property.

A digital pre-plan makes the information highly shareable between property management, first responders and mutual aid stations. This is critical if there are occupants with special needs, such students with cognitive or developmental disabilities. Your pre-plan should supplement and complement any emergency response plan.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Len Karson is an account executive at RealView, LLC, developers of digital preincident plan technology. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Harvard Announces Replacement Facility for Native American Program

    Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., recently announced that construction will begin this spring on a new home for its Native American Program, according to university news. The 6,500-square-foot, all-electric building will stand three stories and serve as the central hub for the Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP).

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Johns Hopkins Starts Construction on New Residence Hall, Dining Facility

    The Homewood Campus of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., recently began construction on a new residence hall and dining facility, according to university news. The work involves demolishing the existing Alumni Memorial Residence Hall I, which was built in 1923, to make room for the new facility.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.