| The concept of Emergency Response Teams is | | | | to house them in the cold weather. Emergency |
| far from novel. It has been in operation since | | | | response teams make sure that whatever |
| 1985, when the Los Angeles Fire Department | | | | resources they are provided with by certain |
| developed and implemented an emergency | | | | organizations or government agencies are used |
| response team. Emergency response teams are | | | | effectively and efficiently. In such an environment, |
| very useful in areas where a given situation is | | | | it becomes imperative to take strict care of the |
| deteriorating and getting fast out of control. | | | | minimal resources provided and to get them to |
| These special units are trained in such a manner | | | | people who are in actual need of them. |
| so as to be able to tackle difficulties efficiently. | | | | The instance of hurricane Katrina is another |
| People enrolled into such a program are trained to | | | | natural disaster, where emergency response |
| cope with natural disasters or manmade | | | | teams proved their worth. Due to the powerful |
| disruptions in the natural or regular order of things. | | | | and mighty hurricane, thousands of people not |
| Such teams can be found in corporations as well | | | | only lost their loved ones but also their homes |
| as public service institutions. Most of the time, the | | | | and their abodes. With such teams on the scene, |
| team consists of members who have already | | | | the American government had a chance to |
| been delegated their jobs. However, in special | | | | provide shelter to whoever they could reach to. |
| cases, an ad-hoc team might spring up, consisting | | | | Emergency shelter is highly recommended by the |
| of helpers and volunteers. | | | | safety experts so that your workplace can be |
| Emergency response teams can serve their | | | | made safe. |
| purpose in a number of incidents, such as, natural | | | | This incident also proved the fact that such |
| disasters, for example, hurricanes, earthquakes, | | | | teams not only help the government by dividing |
| typhoons and floods etc. Power grid outage, as in | | | | the operation and management with them but |
| the case of the back out in certain parts of | | | | also by servicing those hit by such natural |
| America and Canada, can also be specifically | | | | disasters. Providing shelter also means that the |
| handled by such rigorously trained teams. Such | | | | victims are provided with basic necessities that |
| teams may also prepare against bomb threats, | | | | enable them to survive up to a time when they |
| hazardous material contamination, terrorist attacks | | | | can fend for themselves, and not rely on |
| and system or project failures. | | | | governmental support. |
| The 2005 earthquake in the northern part of | | | | Many emergency response teams are able to |
| Pakistan is an example where the involvement of | | | | function only with the help of volunteers, who |
| emergency response teams was greatly | | | | make it a point to give back to their society. |
| appreciated. Such teams, comprising of both local | | | | They enroll in training programs to make sure |
| and foreign volunteers, helped providing shelter to | | | | that they are in the know how of how to defend |
| the dislocated and displaced people of northern | | | | them as well as prove to be a source of comfort |
| Pakistan. | | | | to others in their time of need. |
| Shelters provided to the displaced persons helped | | | | |