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75 <br />ORANGE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA <br />V. SYSTEM, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, OPPORTUNITIES, AND THREATS <br />(SWOT ANALYSIS) <br />The study is designed to assess the overall capability of the fire, rescue, and <br />emergency services system in Orange County. This study describes the services <br />provided by County fire, rescue, and emergency service agencies. <br />This chapter describes the strengths and weakness of the current emergency <br />response system. Opportunities for improvement and threats which may make the <br />emergency response system less effective are also described. This Strengths, <br />Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis is the first step in the <br />development of a strategic plan. The development of a strategic plan is a <br />collaborative process which requires the participation of all fire, rescue, and <br />emergency service providers. Legal, financial, and practical constraints often affect <br />the outcome of a strategic plan. A SWOT analysis concentrates on the issues that <br />have the most influence on the effectiveness of an emergency response system. <br />Strengths are conditions or circumstances which enable the fire, rescue, and <br />emergency service agencies to function effectively; wealalesses are conditions or <br />circumstances which inhibit or prevent the fire, rescue, and emergency services <br />agencies from functioning effectively; opportunities are conditions or circumstances <br />which may improve operations; and. threats are conditions or circumstances which <br />may cause a reduction in the quality of services. <br />Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats may come from external <br />sources (sources beyond the organization itself), or internal sources (sources within <br />the organization). <br />STRENGTHS OF THE FIRE, RESCUE, AND EMERGENCY SERVICES <br />The strengths of the County-wide service delivery system are described below. <br />SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS <br />The volunteer firefighting organizations have nearly 300 members. These <br />agencies are supported by two combination departments (Mebane and North <br />Chatham) from adjacent counties. The volunteer departments have been successful <br />in attracting and maintaining sufficient volunteers to provide adequate emergency <br />response within their districts. This system has served the fire districts well and <br />~} MMA CONSULTING GROUP, INC. 72 <br />