International Standards

Disaster and Emergency Management Principles

These types of standards look at the basic principles and values that disaster and emergency management-related policies, plans, procedures, and operations should address. A significant example of this type of standards is the Principles of Emergency Management developed by the Federal Emergency Management Association's (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute in 2007, and endorsed by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). According to these principles, emergency management shall be:

• 1
  Comprehensive: Considering and taking into account all hazards, phases, stakeholders, and impacts relevant to disasters.
• 2
  Progressive: Anticipating future disasters and taking preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
• 3
  Risk-driven: Using sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
• 4
  Integrated: Ensuring unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
[Page 357]
• 5
  Collaborative: Creating and sustaining broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
• 6
  Coordinated: Synchronizing the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
• 7
  Flexible: Using creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
• 8
  Professional: Valuing a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship, and continuous improvement.

Standards for Systems

These are standards pertaining to governance and refer to how governments and organizations manage their disaster and emergency management processes, functions, or activities so their products or services meet the objectives. Since 2001, the International Standards Organizations (ISO) has investigated the development of standards to improve disaster and emergency management through the ISO technical committee 223 (ISO/TC 223). The mission of the ISO/TC 223 is to develop international standards that will improve mitigation and preparedness before a disaster or emergency, coordination during an emergency, and reconstruction and remedial action afterward. In 2007, ISO published the first internationally ratified benchmark document addressing incident preparedness and continuity management for organizations in both public and private sectors within the context of societal security. ISO/PAS 22399:2007, “Societal Security—Guideline for Incident Preparedness and Operational Continuity Management” describes a holistic management process and is based on best practices from five national standards from Australia, Israel, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This guideline is aligned with the globally accepted standards such as ISO 9001:2000 (quality management), ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management), and ISO/IEC 27001:2005 (information technology security).

...