SSP Emergency Planning & Response 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the principle of 'Unified Command' is used when:
- Multiple agencies with jurisdictional authority respond to the same incident (Correct answer)
- A single agency manages an incident with mutual aid support
- Only federal agencies are involved in the response
- The incident extends beyond 24 hours in duration
Correct answer: Multiple agencies with jurisdictional authority respond to the same incident
Unified Command is established when multiple agencies share authority over an incident, allowing them to coordinate without surrendering individual agency authority.
Question 2: A Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) is BEST described as a tool that helps communities:
- Identify threats, estimate impacts, and set capability targets (Correct answer)
- Draft mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions
- Conduct internal audits of existing emergency plans
- Train first responders in hazmat response techniques
Correct answer: Identify threats, estimate impacts, and set capability targets
THIRA is a FEMA framework that guides communities in identifying threats, assessing impacts, and determining the capabilities needed to address them.
Question 3: Which recovery phase activity is considered a 'long-term' function following a major disaster?
- Rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring economic activity (Correct answer)
- Conducting search and rescue operations
- Distributing emergency water and food supplies
- Establishing temporary emergency shelters
Correct answer: Rebuilding critical infrastructure and restoring economic activity
Long-term recovery includes restoring infrastructure and economic systems, which can take months to years after the immediate crisis is resolved.
Question 4: The NFPA 1600 standard primarily addresses which aspect of emergency management?
- Business continuity and emergency management program requirements (Correct answer)
- Fire suppression system design and inspection
- Hazardous materials storage and labeling
- Personal protective equipment standards for first responders
Correct answer: Business continuity and emergency management program requirements
NFPA 1600 is the standard on Continuity, Emergency, and Crisis Management, providing a comprehensive framework for program development.
Question 5: During a shelter-in-place order for an airborne chemical release, occupants should FIRST:
- Move to an interior room and seal gaps in doors and windows (Correct answer)
- Open windows on the downwind side to ventilate the building
- Evacuate immediately via the nearest exit
- Report to the building rooftop to avoid ground-level contamination
Correct answer: Move to an interior room and seal gaps in doors and windows
Sheltering in place requires moving to an interior room and sealing openings to minimize infiltration of outside contaminants.
Question 6: Which federal agency leads the National Response Framework (NRF) coordination for domestic incidents?
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) (Correct answer)
- FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation)
- OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
Correct answer: FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
FEMA, within the Department of Homeland Security, is the primary federal coordinator under the National Response Framework for domestic emergencies.
Question 7: A facility's emergency plan should include a personnel accountability system primarily to:
- Confirm all occupants are safely evacuated or accounted for (Correct answer)
- Track employees' overtime hours during a response
- Log the names of responders entering the building
- Document property losses during an incident
Correct answer: Confirm all occupants are safely evacuated or accounted for
Personnel accountability ensures that all persons are confirmed safe or their status is known, which is a life-safety priority during any emergency.
SSP Emergency Planning & Response 3
In the National Incident Management System (NIMS), the principle of 'Unified Command' is used when: