Planning for large-scale special events: The event planning process and the role of emergency managers
Abstract
Planning for large-scale special events is a critical aspect of public safety and community engagement. While such events offer significant cultural and economic benefits, they also present unique challenges for local jurisdictions, including increased emergency call volumes, potential civil disturbances and risks of multi-casualty incidents (MCIs). This paper explores the comprehensive planning process needed to ensure both successful and safe events, focusing on collaboration among emergency managers, public safety officials and event organisers. It highlights common misconceptions surrounding event permitting, such as the belief that planning is only necessary for high-risk events or that a one-size-fits-all approach suffices. Additionally, it addresses the impacts of large-scale events on local resources and communities, outlining the key steps in the planning process: team selection, threat and vulnerability assessments, safety meetings and post-event evaluations. By providing a structured framework, this paper equips stakeholders with the tools to enhance safety and ensure that events are well coordinated and aligned with public safety needs. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.
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Author's Biography
Brevyn Mettler has been in emergency management for 20 years and has been an Emergency Management Administrator for the City of Huntington Beach since 2005. During his career he has responded to multiple local and federally declared disasters and planned large-scale special events such as the Pacific Airshow and US Open of Surfing. Brevyn has a BA in political science/international relations, a Master’s degree in public policy and administration, and Master of Science in homeland security management. He is a Certified Emergency Manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers, a CA Professional Emergency Manager with the California Emergency Services Association and maintains an EMT-B certification. Brevyn is very active in the emergency management community and participates on various committees and working groups at the local and state level.
Molly Uemura has worked for the City of Huntington Beach in the Community Services Department for over 15 years, where she currently serves as the Community Services Manager of the Special Events Division. She has a BA in English: rhetoric and composition from California State University, Long Beach. Molly oversees the entirety of the permitting process for specific events such as the US Open of Surfing, Association of Volleyball Professionals Tournaments, Pacific Airshow and the City’s Independence Day events.
Citation
Mettler, Brevyn and Uemura, Molly (2025, August 17). Planning for large-scale special events: The event planning process and the role of emergency managers. In the Journal of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning, Volume 19, Issue 1. https://doi.org/10.69554/BOAK7410.
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