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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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April
2008
Volume
14
- Number 3 |
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The Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) By: Francine Smith The Emergency Information Infrastructure Partnership (EIIP) is a non-profit organization, designed to create a dialogue between organizations and individuals involved in emergency management and public safety. The main facet of the organization is the “Virtual Forum,” which is similar to a ‘Live Chat’ webpage. The “Virtual Forum” allows organizations, individuals, and partners to have an “equal voice” to discuss emergency management practices, experiences, questions, and concerns. It provides a platform for organizations to better understand each other and their part in the emergency management world. The mission of the EIIP is to, “…promote the safety of the general public by enhancing the effectiveness of individuals, whether paid or unpaid, full-time or part-time, who are engaged in some aspect of emergency/disaster management.” Their vision involves establishing themselves as a valued member of the emergency management community, while providing opportunities for open exchange of ideas and timely information. There are five guiding principles that EIIP strives to follow: They value the contribution individuals in emergency management make in order to help others; they believe that dialogue between all levels of government and between researchers, practitioners, public sector organizations, first responders, volunteers, and stakeholders is crucial to making emergency management and public safety effective; they believe that all phases of emergency management must continue to improve in the future; they believe that the application of new technology is essential to successful emergency management; and they believe challenges and threats imposed by technological, natural, and civil hazards are universal and that everyone has something to contribute when it comes to emergency management. There are a number of organizations that have collaborated with EIIP in the past few years. The concept for EIIP was developed by the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management (NCCEM), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), and State and Local Emergency Management Data Users Group (SALEMDUG). These organizations combine efforts with hopes of improving and unifying the emergency information system both nationally and internationally. Sources: |