The specific orders that Rowan received were simple: Get the message to General Garcia. Use all necessary means. And maintain complete discretion. Rowan's only tools were a couple of guides and his wits. Had Rowan not used the resources made available to him, understood the need for cooperation with those more knowledgeable than he, and heeded his orders to the letter, not only would the mission have failed but the covert nature would have been revealed, causing even greater problems.

What can we learn from Rowan? It has been said that "…civilization is a long search for people like Rowan," which begs the question: Who is Rowan? He is the perfect worker/soldier/executor when important tasks are required. He does what is asked of him without asking idiotic questions or wasting time. He delivers his message using all means available with a single goal in mind-the successful completion of his task.

The parallels between Rowan and the emergency manager are many. Just like Rowan, modern emergency managers have to deal with limited resources, incomplete information, and superiors who will not or cannot provide every minute detail. The creativity exhibited by Rowan in his quest for General Garcia is something that emergency managers must emulate when faced with issues, such as how to prepare for an emergency, improvise equipment, or make up for a shortfall in funds.

All of the aforementioned challenges were tackled by Rowan. He knew when to rely on the judgment of those around him and when to rely on his own. His sense of duty eclipsed any pride or arrogance he may have had, and his understanding of the importance of the mission overshadowed his desire to be the hero. One of the best examples of this comes at the point in the story where Rowan had delivered the message to General Garcia. Rowan wanted to take time to explore the area; however, General Garcia needed to send a reply quickly. Instead of asking for time to do what it was he desired, he got on his horse and started heading back to the United States as soon as the General gave him his orders and his leave.

It is this sense of duty and sacrifice for what is right that is the hallmark of emergency management. No one enjoys spending countless hours in an EOC or giving up free time for preparations, but duties need to be followed despite what personal desires may exist.

One of the biggest mistakes an emergency manger can make, especially during a time of crisis, is debate. If Rowan were to debate and discuss his orders, the mission would have failed before it had even begun. Such discussion in emergency management would result in the failure of the mission at hand and would, almost undoubtedly, result in lost property and lost lives.

Ultimately, like Rowan, emergency managers must not ask unnecessary questions or take too much time considering the possibilities of various scenarios but simply hunker-down and do what needs to be done. Professionals in this field must understand that the keys to success are not complete blueprints and predictability but rather improvisation and hard work. By embracing these two simple yet important ideas, we as emergency managers can successfully deliver our own "message to Garcia."

Tony Alexiou is an emergency management project consultant with All Hands Consulting. He can be reached at (305) 774-0012.