Developing a meaningful and actionable Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) is no easy task. Neither is keeping the plan current given changes in organizational resources (personnel and equipment), or even changes within the community the plan is written to serve. As published in its Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101 (CPG 101) for Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes these and other planning pitfalls and offers guidance for how to avoid or overcome them. Here’s what the Agency has to say:

The most common planning pitfall is the development of lengthy, overly detailed plans that those responsible for their execution do not read. A plan that tries to cover every conceivable condition or that attempts to address every detail will only frustrate, constrain, and confuse those charged with its implementation. Successful plans are simple and flexible.

Another major pitfall faced by planners is failing to account for the community’s needs, concerns, capabilities, and desire to help. Often, plans are written based on the “average citizen” or mirror image of the planners. However, communities are diverse and comprise a wide variety of people, including those with access and functional needs, those requiring the support of service animals, and those who cannot independently care for themselves, such as children. This also includes diverse racial and ethnic populations and immigrant communities. Failing to base planning on the demographics and requirements of the particular community may lead to false planning assumptions, ineffective courses of action, and inaccurate resource calculations. 

Related to this pitfall is the notion that responders are the only people who can take action. The public often does their work before responders arrive. The community must be engaged in the planning process and included as an integral part of the plan.

Planning is only as good as the information on which it is based. Too often, planners rely on untested assumptions or uncoordinated resources. Planners should ensure that