Winston
Each ATC unit will have its own plan; arrange a visit to your local unit [or units] and ask if you can see the plan.
You may be amazed at the level of service and professionalism, irrespective of the size of the airport.
Couple of interesting points:-
ATC can declare an emergency even if the pilot is unwilling to do so.
Once a mayday is declared it would be unusual to down-grade to a pan even if the pilot suggests it [although there may be the rare and odd circumstance where this is possible]
Discussion point for you.........twin engined jet announces to ATC that an engine has been shut down, but no emergency will be declared and wishes to continue to original destination Heathrow.
The pilot is deliberately intending to overfly a densely-populated area on "one". Is the pilot guilty of anything? If an emergency is declared.....different laws and rules apply.....!!...what would you do? .....yes I know that passengers don't like to see "fire-engines".....etc.