Planning for large-scale special events: The event planning process and the role of emergency managers

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/.