Final answer:
The first step in implementing an emergency preparedness plan is to conduct an assessment of potential emergencies and available resources, followed by adapting existing means to create a plan that ensures the resilience of critical infrastructure and effective emergency measures.
Step-by-step explanation:
When implementing an emergency preparedness plan, the first step is to conduct a thorough assessment of potential emergencies and resources available. It's essential to adapt the existing means and available resources to create an operational plan capable of addressing these risks. This involves prioritizing actions based on the timeline of events and understanding the cause and effect of potential emergencies.
As part of this process, ensuring the resilience of critical national infrastructure and implementing effective civil defense and emergency preparedness measures, including anti-terrorism legislation, is crucial. This master plan acts as a "break glass in case of emergency" safeguard, ready to be deployed when needed. Starting with this assessment ensures that all subsequent steps in the preparedness plan are grounded in practicality and geared towards the most efficient response possible.