Emergency management is a discipline of dealing with and avoiding risks. In case of any emergency the immediate and fast intervention is necessary. It is possible only because of well-prepared contingency plans and adequate software support. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to focus on the common characteristics of process modelling within emergency management and to define the design patterns that are typical of this area. These Design Patterns enable faster and simpler generation of emergency processes and contingency plans as well as subsequent software support. They result from the current documentation and legislation. Each design pattern does not represent a final emergency process, but only a certain structure which is necessary to further customize according to current user requirements. Specifically, 16 design patterns have been identified and described on more management levels. The present form of design patterns is a result of the consolidation of many real processes of emergency management that arose and were verified within several research projects or set of directed interviews with emergency management experts.