Working together

Depending on its scale and impact, an emergency or disaster is likely to require the resources of a number of agencies and organisations in order to meet the needs that will be presented. When citizens, volunteers, communities and organisations work together, they can better inform and prepare themselves to reduce the impact, disruption and trauma of an emergency and complement the civil protection arrangements.

A key factor of resilience is working together:

• Drawing on all resources available and integrating the contribution of citizens, volunteers, communities, voluntary, professional and statutory organisations
• Integrating the needs of citizens within and across all phases of emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery strategies
• Including citizens and communities as active partners in emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities
• Assisting organisations to work together co-operatively and in a co-ordinated way to meet medical, practical and emotional needs during and after emergencies and disasters.

A variety of actors can be identified with a role and contribution to make before, during and after an emergency:

• public authorities manage the response and preparedness
• NGOs and voluntary organisations provide a range of services and resources
• professional organisations provide expertise and services
• commercial sector can offer practical and financial support
• social networks can demonstrate solidarity and encourage action
• media can provide information and communication
• the citizen can take measures to protect him or herself and the community.

To enable organisations to work together effectively in a response involves a long-term process of building capacities, relationships and trust. Elements that drive this process forward include: joint planning, training and exercising and review, establishing clear co-ordinating mechanisms and structures and optimising communication.

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Make us part of your plan Source(s): Red Cross / EU Office Summary of Red Cross national societies role, arrangements and resources within the European Union. Audience: Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Products and kits, Public information Language: English View resource details Downloads Make us part of your plan Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. Community-based exercise guide Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A Community-based emergency exercise guide which will assist those people involved in supporting communities to improve their ability to plan for emergencies. The guide provides practical advice on organising an effective, participatory and interactive exercise at the local level. The exercize guide is part of the Informed. Prepared. Together. family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Artwork templates, Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Exercises, Guidelines and guidance, Manual, Training materials Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. Community-based exercise guide Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together. : Human aspects in civil protection Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A set of two guidance documents for governments and organisations. Human aspects in civil protection – understanding the principles, a strategic level leaflet which invites governments and organisations to put individuals and communities at the centre of civil protection planning, preparedness, response and recovery activities and to consider principles for building resilience at a national level. Human aspects in civil protection – putting the principles into practice, a booklet to assist practioners to implement the principles within existing local arrangements. The guidance documents are part of the Informed. Prepared. Together family of products which can be found on www.informedprepared.eu Project: Informed Prepared Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Guidelines and guidance, Manual, Training materials Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together. : Human aspects in civil protection Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Informed. Prepared. Together Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and stickers Source(s): Red Cross/EU Office A collection of Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and stickers in various forms and sizes, offering citizens (adults, teenagers and children) and communities generic tips and advice on how to prepare for an emergency, what to do in an emergency, preparing an emergency kit bag and making a personal contact plan. These can be distributed following awareness-raising activities, as part of lessons, courses or exercises. Project: Informed. Prepared. Together Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Non governmental organisations, Private/Industry sector, Red Cross, Teachers/Youth leaders/Opinion formers, Volunteers, Young persons 11-18, Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Campaign/Promotional material, Educational material, Products and kits Language: English View resource details External Links Informed. Prepared. Together: Top 10 Tips leaflets, cards and sti... Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Workshop on community preparedness and public participation for flash flood management in Europe Source(s): Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) The Associated Programme on Flood Management (APFM) is a joint initiative of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). 'Community preparedness and public participation for Flash Flood Management in Europe: recommendations from workshop)Workshop on Community preparedness and public participation for Flash Flood Management in Europe Krakow, Poland, 29-30 October 2007. The conclusions include: a multi-disciplinary and sectoral approach is needed to manage and mitigate adverse impacts, best managed by local authorities with active and effective involvement of people at risk, there is a need to develop risk-sharing mechanisms among various levels of government and individuals to strengthen resilience of affected communitties. Audience: Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations Type: Report Language: English View resource details External Links http://www.apfm.info/cee_workshop.htm Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Source(s): United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) An entity within the United Nations Secretariat, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) supports mobilization, funding and coordination of humanitarian action in response to complex emergencies and natural disasters. Audience: Emergency services, Non governmental organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations Type: Research and academic, Website, Network, institution or organisation Language: English View resource details External Links http://ochaonline.un.org Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
The role of NGO's volunteers in civil protection in EUMS and EEAC Source(s): British Red Cross The purpose of the project was to enable European Member States and European Economic Area Countries to understand better the contribution that non-governmental organisations’ volunteers can make in prevention of, planning for, and responding to civil emergencies and to consider how such contribution can be utilised fully. Project: The role of NGO's volunteers in civil protection i Audience: Community groups, Emergency services, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government Type: Report Language: English View resource details External Links The role of non-governmental organisations' volunteers in civil p... Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
The promotion of volunteer work in civil protection in the EU Member States and EEA countries on the basis of the recomendation of common standards Source(s): Technisches Hilswerk (THW) The aim of the project was to promote the deployment of volunteers in the civil protection of EU Members States and EEA countries. The project was to identify existing networks between European volunteer organisations in the area of education and training. Audience: Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Government , Intergovernmental organisations, Trainers/Instructors Type: Report Language: English View resource details Downloads Promotion of volunteers in european civil protection: Project report Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
The National Flood Forum Source(s): The National Flood Forum Provides support and advice to communities and individuals that have been flooded or are at risk of flooding. It is a collective, authoritative voice that aims to influence central and local government and all agencies that manage flood risk. The National Flood Forum is a charity run by people who have experienced the trauma, loss and frustration that go with flooding or have first hand experience of supporting the victims of flooding both during and after the event. Audience: Bereaved and survivors, Community groups, Emergency services, Individuals, Local/Municipal authority, Non governmental organisations, Red Cross, Search and rescue organisations, Voluntary organisations, Volunteers, Government , Intergovernmental organisations Type: Website, Centre for support and care, Network, institution or organisation Language: English View resource details External Links http://www.floodforum.org.uk/ Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments
Team Österreich Source(s): Austrian Red Cross A system to organise and register convergent volunteers. People interested in volunteering register and can be alerted via sms in case of an emergency. Project: Team Team Österreich Audience: Red Cross, Voluntary organisations, Volunteers Type: Campaign/Promotional material Language: English View resource details External Links http://oe3.orf.at/teamoesterreich/ Comments Sending message… Name: e-mail: Location: Organisation: I would like to receive updates: Send comment Be first to add comments