Public Safety
The City of Westlake upholds the public safety of its residents to the highest degree.
A key responsibility of local government is the emergency management function which is spread amongst various departments and every employee has a role within the the City in some form. Emergency management within the City is an integrated effort to save and preserve life, prevent injury, mitigate hazards and minimize economic loss.
Phases of Emergency Management
In any emergency situation, the following four (4) phases are set in motion (as recognized and defined by the US Department of Homeland Security - Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) . The overall goal is always to be as best prepared well ahead of any emergency or disaster ensuring the continuity of services and resiliency of the community following an emergency or disaster.
1. Mitigation
This phase includes actions taken to prevent or reduce the cause, impact, and consequences of disasters. Mitigation activities take place BEFORE an emergency occurs. Examples include:
- Local Plans and regulations
- Structure and Infrastructure projects
- Natural systems protection
- Education and awareness programs
2. Preparedness
This phase includes planning, training, and educational activities for events that cannot be mitigated. Examples include:
- Developing disaster preparedness plans for what to do, where to go, or who to call for help in a disaster
- Exercising plans through drills, tabletop exercises, and full-scale exercises
- Creating a supply list of items that are useful in a disaster
3. Response
The response phase occurs in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. During the response phase, business and other operations do not function normally. Personal safety and wellbeing in an emergency and the duration of the response phase depend on the level of preparedness. Examples of response activities include:
- Implementing disaster response plans
- Conducting search and rescue missions
- Taking actions to protect yourself, your family, your animals, and others
4. Recovery
During the recovery period, restoration efforts occur concurrently with regular operations and activities. The recovery period from a disaster can be prolonged.
Examples of recovery activities include:
- Preventing or reducing stress-related illnesses and excessive financial burdens
- Rebuilding damaged structures based on advanced knowledge obtained from the preceding disaster
- Reducing vulnerability to future disasters
