ABSTRACT
The profession of Emergency Management is molded and governed by many laws, policies, and best practices. As an Emergency Manager, it is important to be familiar with these mandates and best practices, whether they originate at the federal, state, regional, or local levels. Some of the core laws and guidance include the Robert T. Stafford Act (Stafford Act); the National Incident Management System (NIMS) doctrine; state and local rules, statutes, and policies; and sector-specific policies such as the Clery Act for institutes of higher education and the Joint Commission standard for the healthcare industry. Each of these laws, policies, and best practices lay the foundation for Emergency Management programs across the United States in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
