After an emergency operations plan has been developed and approved, what is the next critical step?

Implementing and maintaining the emergency operations plan is crucial because it translates the planning phase into action. Once the plan is approved, it needs to be actively utilized by the organizations responsible for emergency management. This includes the coordination and execution of assigned roles, responsibilities, and tasks during an emergency.

The maintenance aspect is equally important; it ensures that the plan remains relevant and effective over time. This might involve regularly updating the plan based on changes in resources, personnel, operational procedures, or lessons learned from exercises and actual emergencies. Ensuring that all stakeholders are aware of and follow the plan is vital for achieving successful outcomes in crisis situations.

While conducting additional threat assessments, presenting the plan to the public, and training staff on emergency protocols are also important steps in the overall emergency management process, they typically occur after the plan is implemented and maintained. Training, for instance, is part of the implementation phase, but the core of progressing from planning to execution lies in the diligence of maintaining and actively using the plan.