MERRIMACK FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT /HOMELAND SECURITY

 

Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department Emergency Management coordinates the efforts of the town in preparing for and responding to major emergencies and disasters. In times past, this agency was called Civil Defense because of its emphasis on preparedness for nuclear attack. The current name, Emergency Management, reflects a shift in priorities toward an “ALL HAZARDS” approach which emphasizes preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, regardless of the cause.

Mission

The Mission of Merrimack Fire and Rescue Department Emergency Management is to make every effort to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Merrimack from all types of major emergencies and disasters both man made and natural. This mission is accomplished through a comprehensive emergency management program. One tool used is Emergency Operations Planning. This planning highlights the responsibilities, activities, and actions of all town departments and their response to the effects of disasters and emergencies.

The mission is also accomplished by encouraging citizens to organize family preparedness plans, group preparedness planning and to take the necessary steps to ensure their survival for the first 72 to 120 hours after a major disaster. This will allow sufficient time for assistance to arrive depending on the magnitude of the event. Most disasters assistance will arrive within the first 72 hours, but depending upon the time of year major repairs to the infrastructure may take weeks.

Goals

The following goals have been established to accomplish our mission:
 
1.      MITIGATION: Educate the public and insure they know how to receive and respond to early warning to reduce personal harm, suffering or hardship: property or economic loss: and reduce widespread disruption of routine community activities and services.
2.      PREPARATION: Coordinate and manage necessary resources and personnel; to respond when situations and events do occur.
3.      RESPONSE: Coordinate an effective response early enough in the disaster to reduce the degree of harm, suffering, hardship and disruption associated with those situations and events which cannot be prevented.
4.      RECOVERY: Timely restoration of essential services, support systems and routine operations after a situation and events do occur.

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