Bak Emergency Management
The Four C Model of Bak Emergency Management
Collaboration
Many of us have heard the saying, ‘Don’t wait til a disaster to trade your business cards’, and nothing is closer to the truth. Building our networks is one step towards building relationships; true collaboration goes beyond this. We need to sit down with each other, learn about each other, and create a relationship where we have mutual understanding of our roles and responsibilities as it pertains to the safety and security of those who may be affected by an emergency event or disaster.
Community
Taking a whole of community approach to planning is key; we can no longer work in silos. We need to take a broader look at our communities and view them as a whole, with distinct trends, demographics, histories, and capacities. Planning should include all sectors such as non-profit, private industry, community groups, and all levels of government. Building on the already existing strengths of a group or community is key!
Caring
At its core, emergency management is about people. Caring for ourselves, our teams, our citizens, and our community at large is vital to ensuring we can create appropriate plans and respond to meet the needs of all involved in a disaster. Understanding stress, trauma, and everything in between requires openness, understanding, and education in order to embed related strategies into our programs and operational components.
Capacity
When we bring community together, when we collaborate and share with each other, and when we create a space for mental health and well-being, we build our capacity to respond in a way that is strong, viable, and sustainable. There will always be gaps and our learning never ends, however we must strive to be ready for anything to ensure those who require assistance can receive it in a timely and appropriate manner.
