(1)
Agencies should respond to an emergency by activating their own plans and co-ordinating with the lead agency.
(2)
Within the constraints that the emergency creates, each agency, operating within its own jurisdiction, must co-ordinate with interdependent agencies to—
assess the impact of an event on its own staff, assets, and services; and
activate its own continuity and emergency arrangements; and
maintain or restore the services it provides; and
communicate with lead agencies, other responders, and the public; and
align response activities with other agencies to avoid gaps and duplications.
(3)
In addition, the emergency services are expected to—
assess the effect of an event on the community; and
co-ordinate the local efforts of their agency; and
communicate assessments and actions with the appropriate lead agency.
(4)
Emergency response objectives include—
preservation of life; and
prevention of escalation of the emergency; and
maintenance of law and order; and
care of sick, injured, and dependent people (first aid, medical, and evacuation facilities, and welfare); and
provision of essential services (lifeline utilities, food, shelter, public information, and media); and
preservation of governance (continuity of the machinery of government); and
asset protection, including buildings and historic heritage assets (including structures, areas, landscapes, archeological sites, and wahi tapu); and
protection of natural and physical resources (to the extent reasonably possible in the circumstances); and
preservation of economic activity.