Disaster readiness and resilience when you need it most.
Communities today are operating in an environment where expectations for preparedness, response, and recovery have never been higher.
ProAct Strategies can help create the framework to meet those expectations.
Be Proactive and Prepared
ProAct Strategies, LLC
Why It Matters |
During a crisis, leaders must guide a community through high-impact situations with informed decision-making.
Achieving this level of capability requires a comprehensive approach, ensuring a communities preparedness is:
Comprehensive – addressing a full range of potential hazards
Structured – aligned with nationally accepted best practices
Scalable – adaptable to incidents of varying size and complexity
The Approach |
We begin with the development of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Framework (CEMF) tailored to the unique risks facing a community.
This framework is grounded in established risk principles, including the relationship between vulnerability, threat, and consequence, and is designed to translate these concepts into practical and actionable plans.
The Result |
Providing a grounded real-world application, ensuring plans are not only compliant, but practical, executable, and aligned with how communities operate during critical events.
Leaders demonstrate clarity, coordination, and confidence when their communities need and depend on them the most.
ProAct Strategies, LLC
The Consultant |
William F. Vedra, Jr. brings first hand experience leading emergency preparedness at the local, state, and incident-response levels. He brings more than 40 years of public service experience, including over 25 years in senior administrative and executive leadership roles focused on public safety, emergency preparedness, and municipal operations.
As Deputy City Administrator for a community of over 43,000 residents, he provides strategic policy guidance and operational oversight to executive leadership, with direct responsibility for public safety and emergency management functions. His experience includes leading complex, multi-agency coordination efforts and supporting leadership decision-making during high-pressure situations.
Previously, William served as Director of the Ohio Division of Homeland Security and the State Fusion Center, where he led statewide preparedness initiatives and coordinated across local, state, and federal agencies to strengthen resilience and continuity of operations.
His operational background includes distinguished service with the Columbus Division of Fire as a Battalion Chief and Paramedic, as well as leadership roles with specialized units including the Research and Development, Hazmat, Bomb Squad, and FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (Ohio Task Force 1). He deployed to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, and to Hurricane Ivan in 2005.
Our Phased Approach
Begins with the development of a Comprehensive Emergency Management Framework (CEMF) tailored to the unique risks facing your community.
Guided by the National Preparedness Goal (NPG) and its continuous improvement model of Planning, Organizing, Training, Equipping, and Evaluation.
Aligned with NFPA 1600/1660, a nationally recognized standard for emergency management and continuity planning.
Ensuring preparedness efforts remain active, relevant, and sustainable over time.
ProAct Strategies, LLC has the experience to write the plans necessary for readiness and resilience.
ProAct Strategies, LLC
Phase 1 | Assess & Align
This phase focuses on establishing a clear understanding of current capabilities, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
Review existing plans, procedures, and preparedness goals.
Align current planning with NFPA 1600/1660 standards.
Evaluate regional and state risk assessments to ensure alignment.
Identify training priorities to strengthen organizational readiness.
Coordinate with county emergency management agencies and local partners.
Identify key gaps and opportunities to enhance preparedness.
This phase establishes a clear, shared understanding of current capabilities and risks creating the foundation for all future planning.
ProAct Strategies, LLC
Phase 2 | Plan & Develop
This phase translates assessment into a structured, usable framework for leadership and staff.
Develop a CEMF, including a base plan and supporting annexes.
Ensure leadership has clear communication protocols during critical incidents.
Strengthen a community’s ability to deliver consistent and accurate crisis communications.
Establish structured response approaches for critical incidents.
Clarify leadership roles, responsibilities, and decision-making authority.
Improve internal and partner agency coordination.
This phase translates insights into clear, usable plans and leadership structures.
ProAct Strategies, LLC
Phase 3 | Prepared and Ready
This phase ensures that plans are operational, tested, and sustainable.
Establish the foundational capability of an operational Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
Validate communication and activation procedures.
Improve situational awareness for leadership through standardized reporting tools.
Define processes for maintaining and updating plans over time.
Test readiness and coordination.
Support leadership development through advanced training opportunities.
Provide tools and templates to support planning for both routine and special events.
This phase ensures the community is not only prepared, but practiced and ready to act.
Learn more about how you can build a Comprehensive Emergency Management Framework
“We never thought this could or would happen here. But, we had a plan and we practiced it”.
Mayor, Providence Rhode Island, Brown University Attack
ProAct Strategies, LLC
