Planners must consider risk-related issues duringEmergency Operations Plan (EOP)development toevaluate the need to implement proper control techniques to reduce losses. This reflects the transition from "Risk Assessment" to "Risk Management." While identifying hazards (Option A) and prioritizing mitigation (Option C) are part of the broader cycle, the EOP is specifically designed to control theimpactof those risks during the response phase.
Risk consideration in an EOP allows planners to decide which "Control Techniques" are necessary for specific vulnerabilities. These techniques includeRisk Avoidance(e.g., not placing a command center in a flood zone),Risk Reduction(e.g., installing fire suppression systems), andRisk Transfer(e.g., insurance). In the context of the EOP, "Loss" is defined not just in financial terms, but in terms of life safety, infrastructure downtime, and environmental damage. If a planner identifies that a chemical release is a high-risk issue, the EOP must then include specific controls such as specialized PPE, decontamination protocols, and evacuation triggers.
According to theIBFCSM CEDPbody of knowledge, an EOP that is divorced from risk analysis is merely a template. By embedding risk-related issues into the plan, the organization ensures that its response is "proportionate" to the threat. For example, if the risk of a cyber-attack is high, the EOP should include a "Manual Override" control technique for critical life-safety systems. This proactive evaluation ensures that the organization has the necessary "controls"—whether they are physical assets, trained personnel, or legal authorities—ready to be deployed the moment the disaster occurs, thereby fulfilling the fundamental goal of minimizing the impact on the community.
