U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

2005 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SURVEY RESULTS

In response to the survey conducted in April, 85 agencies reported on steps they have taken to prepare for natural and man-made emergencies. The 85 included all 15 cabinet level departments as well as 8 additional agencies that participate in the President's Management Council (PMC).

The results reflect very high levels of emergency preparation by those surveyed. The 2005 survey results show significant year-to-year increases the agencies' emergency planning efforts.

Each year, OPM issues the survey and analyzes the results in order to assess emergency preparedness, governmentwide, and to help individual agencies in their emergency planning efforts.

The 2005 survey responses reflected the following highlights:

• Over 95 percent of all agencies and 100 percent of PMC agencies conducted evacuation drills in the past year;

• Sixty percent of all agencies and over 70 percent of PMC agencies have conducted shelter-in-place drills in the past year;

• Almost 95 percent of agencies have tested fire safety and public address systems;

• Almost 90 percent of agencies distributed emergency guides to employees;

• Over 75 percent of agencies met with employees to discuss risks and contingency plans;

• Roughly 90 percent of agencies sought employee input on improving emergency plans and procedures, and over 95 percent of agencies contact all employees when emergency plans or procedures change.

The survey results also show more federal agencies utilizing telework arrangements:

• More than 60 percent of agencies utilize telework arrangements as an emergency preparedness tool;

• In addition to telework options, nearly 60 percent of agencies have arranged to transfer work to other agency locations. Also, more than 65 percent have made arrangements to conduct emergency operations using the space of other agencies. Finally, over 75 percent of agencies have plans to notify customers/clients of temporary alternative arrangements.

Agencies made improvements in virtually all survey categories when compared with last year's survey. Agencies understand the importance of preparing for the unexpected and having the ability to maintain business continuity.

What follows are survey results tabulated for all agencies and for agencies that make up the President's Management Council (PMC).

A. Does your facility have an up-to-date Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP)?

		PMC* AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	90.6%	81.0%	100.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	7.1%	0.0%	0.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	19.0%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

B. Have threat assessments been conducted at your facility?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	77.6%	61.9%	87.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	8.2%	9.5%	13.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	3.5%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	8.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	1.2%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

C. Has your organization/facility conducted shelter-in-place drills in the past year?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	60.0%	47.6%	73.9%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	17.6%	28.6%	26.1%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	2.4%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	20.0%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	23.8%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

D. Has your facility conducted evacuation drills in the past year?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	95.3%	57.1%	100.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	2.4%	19.0%	0.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	2.4%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	23.8%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

E. Does your organization ensure protection for special needs employees in emergencies?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	92.9%	66.7%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	2.4%	9.5%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	3.5%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	23.8%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

F. Has your organization/facility distributed emergency guides to employees?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	88.2%	66.7%	91.3%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	7.1%	0.0%	8.7%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	1.2%	4.8%	0.0%
NO	3.5%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

G. Has your organization designated emergency personnel?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	95.3%	66.7%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	3.5%	0.0%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	33.3%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

H. Has your organization/facility conducted meetings with employees to discuss risks and communicate contingency and other building-specific evacuation and shelter-in-place plans?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	76.5%	57.1%	78.3%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	15.3%	9.5%	17.4%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	4.8%	0.0%
NO	7.1%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%	4.3%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

I. Does your organization/facility actively solicit employee comments/suggestions for improvements in emergency preparedness plans or procedures?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	89.4%	57.1%	91.3%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	5.9%	4.8%	8.7%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	4.8%	0.0%
NO	4.7%	4.8%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

J. Does your organization update employees when emergency plans or procedures change?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	95.3%	71.4%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	3.5%	4.8%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	23.8%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

K. Does your organization maintain updated emergency contact information for key managers and staff?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	94.1%	66.7%	100.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	4.7%	4.8%	0.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	1.2%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

L. Has your organization met with union officials to seek assistance with communication of emergency plans?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	40.0%	57.1%	60.9%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	11.8%	9.5%	13.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	27.1%	0.0%	8.7%
NO	16.5%	4.8%	8.7%
DO NOT KNOW	4.7%	0.0%	8.7%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Note: Organizations that did not meet with union officials on this issue in the past year may have done so earlier.

M. Has your organization informed employees that employee assistance programs are available if they are experiencing stress-related concerns?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	95.3%	57.1%	91.3%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	2.4%	9.5%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	1.2%	4.8%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%	4.3%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

N. Does your facility test fire/safety public address systems?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	94.1%	71.4%	87.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	2.4%	0.0%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	2.4%	0.0%	4.3%
NO	1.2%	4.8%	4.3%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	23.8%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

O. Has your facility checked air handler cutoffs for emergency access?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	82.4%	57.1%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	4.7%	9.5%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	2.4%	4.8%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	9.4%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

P. Is signage for evacuation/egress routes in your facility clearly visible?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	95.3%	66.7%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	4.7%	0.0%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	0.0%	4.8%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	28.6%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

Q. Can safety/security personnel maintain continual communications via walkie-talkie, cell phone, pager, and so forth?

		PMC AGENCIES
ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2004	2005
YES	94.1%	61.9%	100.0%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	4.7%	0.0%	0.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%
NO	0.0%	4.8%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	33.3%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%	100.0%

R. Does your organization's COOP have the following contingencies in place to continue essential operations in the event you cannot occupy your worksite for an extended period (3 days or more)?

Telework capability from home or telecenter.

ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2005 PMC AGENCIES
YES	63.5%	65.2%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	25.9%	30.4%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	2.4%	4.3%
NO	5.9%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	2.4%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%

ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2005 PMC AGENCIES
YES	57.6%	82.6%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	17.6%	13.0%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	10.6%	4.3%
NO	9.4%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	4.7%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%

Arrangements to temporarily conduct operations from other agency space.

ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2005 PMC AGENCIES
YES	65.9%	82.6%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	15.3%	8.7%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	3.5%	4.3%
NO	14.1%	4.3%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%

Plans to notify agency customers/clients of temporary alternative arrangements.

ANSWER	2005 GOVERNMENT-WIDE	2005 PMC AGENCIES
YES	75.3%	95.7%
IN PROCESS OR PARTIALLY	15.3%	4.3%
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE FACILITY	2.4%	0.0%
NO	5.9%	0.0%
DO NOT KNOW	1.2%	0.0%
NO RESPONSE	0.0%	0.0%
TOTAL	100.0%	100.0%

Agencies responding in this survey:

Department of State*
Department of the Treasury*
Department of Defense*
Department of Justice*
Department of the Interior*
Department of Agriculture*
Department of Commerce*
Department of Labor*
Department of Health and Human Services*
Department of Housing and Urban Development*
Department of Transportation*
Department of Energy*
Department of Education*
Department of Veterans Affairs*
Department of Homeland Security*
Office of Personnel Management*
General Services Administration*
Executive Office of the President*
Environmental Protection Agency*
National Aeronautics and Space Administration*
National Science Foundation*
Social Security Administration*
Federal Emergency Management Agency*
American Battle Monuments Commission
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Agency for International Development
African Development Foundation
General Account Office
Merit Systems Protection Board
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Architectural & Transportation Barrier Compliance Board
Commission on Civil Rights
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
National Credit Union Administration
National Endowment for the Arts
Export-import Bank of the United States
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
National Endowment for the Humanities
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Trade and Development Agency
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Farm Credit Administration
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Trade Commission
Office of Special Counsel
Federal Housing Finance Board
National Gallery of Art
Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Office of Government Ethics
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Inter-American Foundation
Corporation for National and Community Service
Library of Congress
Federal Election Commission
Government Printing Office
U.S. Tax Court
Federal Maritime Commission
National Security Agency
National Labor Relations Board
National Mediation Board
National Capital Planning Commission
National Archives and Records Administration
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Postal Rate Commission
Peace Corps
Federal Reserve Board
Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation
Armed Forces Retirement Home
Railroad Retirement Board
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Small Business Administration
Securities and Exchange Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Smithsonian Institution
Selective Service System
U.S. Trade Representative
National Transportation Safety Board
U.S. International Trade Commission
U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board

*Denotes President's Management Council Agencies