We Are Warriors Emergency Operations Center Program

Improving Disaster Readiness in the Great Plains

GPTLHB was awarded a $3 million CDC grant to assist Great Plains tribal nations in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and to develop and expand emergency preparedness capacities. The We are Warriors Emergency Operations Center (EOC) provides support to our Relatives in Pennington County and our member tribes throughout the Great Plains. Our focus now is on serving tribal programs, clinics, hospitals, and other emergency management teams in the Great Plains by providing PPE, cleaning supplies, technical assistance, and other essential resources. We also focus on supplying food and cleaning supplies to our relatives in Rapid City, who have tested positive for COVID- 19.

Emergency Management

Definition

Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability hazards and cope with disasters.

Vision

Emergency management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters

Mission

Emergency management protects communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capabilities to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

Principals

Emergency management must be:

Comprehensive: Emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders, and all impacts relevant to disasters.
Progressive: Emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and diseater-resilient communities.
Risk-driven: Emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
Integrated: Emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
Collaborative: Emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
Coordinated: Emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
Flexible: Emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
Professional: Emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship, and continuous improvement.