The city of Warrenton hopes to be more prepared for any emergency that comes its way after approving the city’s first emergency operations plan this month.

The plan outlines the actions and responsibilities of city staff in case of a natural disaster or other emergency. The 187-page document is a framework to help guide the response to a variety of disasters, and ultimately limit potential loss of life or property damage.

This is the first time Warrenton has created an emergency response plan since passing a related ordinance in 1983, City Administrator Terri Thorn told the Warrenton Board of Aldermen. Aldermen approved the emergency plan 6-0 during their public meeting Jan. 7.

Thorn explained that the city emergency plan is based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Incident Management System, and is designed to coordinate well with local fire, ambulance and other emergency agencies.

However, Thorn said the basic level of emergency response is for city staff to address whatever they can on their own.

“The basis of it is that the city will handle emergencies that are within our capabilities on our own. But if an emergency exceeds our local capabilities, then we will call on the Warren County Emergency Management Agency to step in and assist,” Thorn explained.

One important feature of the emergency plan is that it explicitly details what tasks each city department head should be doing before, during and after an emergency incident. For example, resource procurement and management falls to the city finance officer, while emergency communications are assigned to the police department and city administrator.

Thorn said she expects continued updates to the emergency plan as the city consults with other area agencies. She added that new emergency response training will begin for city staff.

“We want to train the department heads on the basic levels of (the National Incident Management System) so that they’re familiar with how it should work if, in fact, there is an emergency,” Thorn said.