Integrating emergency management into local government corporate culture

This project explores the integration of emergency management into local government corporate culture in British Columbia and identifies best practices for consideration. Research includes an extensive literature review and original research via an online survey of current emergency program coordinators in British Columbia. Research delves into what constitutes successful emergency management programs, the potential benefits and challenges of emergency management integration, and best practices for integration into local government corporate culture. Emergency program coordinators confirm that they considered emergency management integration important and share best practices for how they elicit participation and share emergency management information with other local government departments. Best practices include building relationships, collaboration and strategic leadership. Further research is required to identify how to take emergency management to the next level for strategic initiatives that will create sustainable and resilient local governments and communities. Emergency program coordinators are in a unique position to support their organizations in creating a new vision for sustainable and resilient communities by integrating emergency management into the local government corporate culture and together with local government senior management becoming the leaders their communities need and expect for a better future