Your Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP) (formerly Local Emergency Operations Plan (LEOP)), establishes lines of responsibility during a disaster as well as high risk populations, hazard sites, procedures and resources. It is crucial that your community's emergency plan has the correct people and phone numbers listed – so it should be updated every year after Town Meeting. Please work with your Regional Planning Commission to annually update your plan.
Local Emergency Management Plans (LHMP) is the new format for plans in 2019. Some communities began this approach in 2018.
Vermont Emergency Management has created a Local Emergency Management Plan page with guidance and templates. A page with models includes templates for a Flood Response Annex, as well as Evacuation, Sheltering, Debris Management, and Mutual Aid guidances.
During large events multiple towns may collaborate through mutual-aid agreements. During a disaster the LEMP becomes an integral part of working with emergency personnel from the state and federal level. In the event of a disaster FEMA does not typically do any rescues. FEMA provides a collaborative framework and a post-disaster funding mechanism. In preparation for possible or likely disasters, communities coordinate with VEM and FEMA through Local Emergency Planning Committees.
Past municipal plans have not examined emergency plans or addressed how to respond better to the needs through planning, flood response plans, mutual aid agreements, or the needs of first responders.
State statute now specifically encourages “flood emergency preparedness and response planning.”
Where are the high risk populations in the community? 
Will critical facilities including schools, emergency shelters or fragile populations be affected by a flood? Or access to these sites?
Will first responders themselves, the road crew, or other government services be delayed or disabled by a flood?
Does your community need a tactical plan for flood emergencies?
Does your municipal plan identify vulnerable crossing structures and necessary equipment and training?
What can be done during a flood emergency given the situation in your community now?
Does the response to a flood event need to be improved? What should be prioritized?
As your community moves beyond the Local Emergency Management Plan to develop specific flood emergency response plans you may want to be in contact with the Red Cross and look at a recent summary of helpful responses during the Irene emergency posted by the Waterbury Long-Term Community Recovery effort.
Lessons Learned from Six Weeks of Research on the Response to Irene (July 2012)
The VEM page for LEMP includes a template for municipal Continuity of Operations planning. Also, please note that the ACCD Vermont Economic Recovery Initiative Toolbox includes a Continuity of Operations tool for local businesses.
