Emergency Management

What is Emergency Management?

Emergency Management is based on the concept of local disaster management supported by higher levels of Government to include State and Federal assistance when needed. It recognizes that disasters are cyclic. Emergency Management phases include preparing for disasters through training, exercises, planning, and public education. If a disaster occurs, responding to the event and managing the immediate effects on the community. After the emergency phase has passed, often even during, recovery begins, the task of returning a community to the pre-disaster state that may take years. Reducing or eliminating impacts of hazards is a constant goal of Emergency Management though mitigation programs. A new phase of prevention and/or protection has taken a more prominent role in the U.S. after September 11, 2001. From terrorism to disease outbreaks, prevention can involve intelligence, surveillance and detection, and even vaccinations.