Community Emergency Response Guide

Department Resources

Related Resources

Disasters happen, and they can affect you, your family, and your community. The number of disasters in the United States each year is increasing, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Fairfax County faces many hazards. Some are difficult to predict; a few strike without any warning at all. In the past several years, our community has responded to major storms, hurricanes, and power outages. Instead of thinking “it will never happen to me,” use this Guide to help prepare for an emergency, so you know what to do when disaster strikes.

In an emergency, Fairfax County first responders will do all they can to respond to everyone in need. In a big disaster, the priority is those in the most dire circumstances. That means we all need to be prepared to be our own “first responder” for the first three to five days after a major disaster.

This is why it is so important for you to have an emergency plan that is written and practiced at home, have the necessary supplies in case you need to shelter-in-place or evacuate, know how to get information about the emergency, and know how to support your community by helping your neighbors.

When you prepare for a disaster, you should take what emergency management professionals call an “all-hazards” approach. This means making general preparations that will help you, your family, and your neighbors – regardless of the nature of the emergency.

The county’s Emergency Operations Plan provides the basis for the county’s emergency management program, including all county activities and procedures intended to save lives and minimize damage during and after disasters. This Community Emergency Response Guide adapts the Emergency Operations Plan for use by county residents. For more, click here

This Community Emergency Response Guide will provide you with the tools you need to help you become more prepared. It will help you create:

A family emergency plan.
A business preparedness plan.
A neighborhood preparedness plan.
An emergency supply kit.

The Guide also includes:

Emergency contact information and recovery resources.
Specific actions you can take before, during, and after each of Fairfax County’s likeliest hazards.
A list of ways to get involved in your community through volunteer efforts.
Information about the links between you and the county’s emergency management professionals.
When you are prepared, that helps you and your community. Prepared families and businesses result in resilient communities. Resilient, self-sufficient residents can keep themselves safe and secure while first responders care for those with the greatest need.

We are all in this together.

By using the resources provided in this Community Emergency Response Guide, Fairfax County residents will become more resilient and self-sufficient during an emergency.

In support of residents, the county brings significant first responder and recovery resources, including not just Fire and Rescue and Police, but also the departments of Health, Family Services, and many others. State and federal assets may also be requested to support a county emergency. All of these resources are coordinated by the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

OEM coordinates all hazard mitigation, response, and disaster recovery services for the residents of Fairfax County.

Fairfax County OEM also works to support residents as they build resilience by preparing for emergencies before they happen. This includes:

Ready Fairfax (see below)
Sending “Fairfax Alert” messages to keep residents informed of emergency conditions
Emergency planning for government agencies and residents for overall emergency operations, including people with access and functional needs, and continuity of operations
Managing the county Citizen Corps program
Conducting training and exercise programs for Fairfax County government agencies, and in partnership with neighboring local governments and businesses.

READY FAIRFAX

Ready Fairfax is a Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management preparedness program designed to educate and empower community members to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, including natural and human-caused disasters. The goal of the program is to promote preparedness through public engagement. This is achieved through signature programs such as Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP), Preparedness Awareness Weekend (PAW), seasonal programs, and social media.

Ready Fairfax asks you and your neighbors to take four actions: (1) stay informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses; (2) make an emergency plan; (3) build an emergency supply kit; and (4) get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.

To ready the community to respond to all hazards, Fairfax County OEM works with its partners to maintain several important plans. Our primary emergency plans are accessible to residents to support public understanding of county operations before, during, and after a disaster.

The county’s emergency plans can be viewed on OEM’s website here.

Most Prevalent Hazards

Fairfax County is vulnerable to a wide range of hazards (natural, human-caused, and everyday). These hazards threaten the safety of residents. They have the potential to damage or destroy property and disrupt the economy. While we cannot eliminate hazards, we can lessen their potential impacts.

Hazards may occur in isolation, or – more commonly – in ripple-effect clusters. For example, a hurricane may trigger a flood as well as power outages and medical emergencies. Or a thunderstorm may produce lightning that causes a structural fire.

The Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan and other sources were used to identify the hazards detailed below. These identified hazards are those that pose the greatest risk to the county (that is, the highest probability of causing the most severe impacts to exposed lives and property). The analyses are based on detailed reviews of prior hazard history, as well as forecasting and probabilistic modeling tools.

The hazard annexes are grouped by common characteristics, and do not imply any rank-order:

Natural Hazards:

Thunderstorm
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
Flooding
Winter Weather/Extreme Cold
Extreme Heat
Tornado
Earthquake
Pandemic Influenza and Infections Disease

Human-caused hazards (including accidents and intentional acts):

Cyber Attack
Civil Disorder
Acts of Violence/Terrorism
HAZMAT
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear
Dam Failure

"Everyday" emergencies:

Structural Fire
Power Outage/Blackout
Medical Emergency

The "Four Phases" of Emergency Management

Emergency management professionals typically break down their responsibilities into four phases, which form a cycle. This four-phase cycle applies to you too.

It begins with PREPAREDNESS activities that get a community ready before an emergency (including planning, training, and exercising).

Next are the RESPONSE actions that help protect lives and property during a disaster.

RECOVERY efforts are how we build back after a disaster.

MITIGATION projects reduce future risks from hazards – these may be put in place before or after a disaster, but they are always intended to improve conditions before the next event.

Emergency Management and Security

Emergency Management and Security Alert:

Disasters Happen.

Department Resources

Related Resources

Help us improve and let us know how the Community Emergency Response Guide is helping you!

Request a workshop or presentation on the Community Emergency Response Guide!

The "Four Phases" of Emergency Management

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

Related Resources

Emergency Management and Security

Emergency Management and Security Alert:

Disasters Happen.

Department Resources

Related Resources