The Emergency Management Program coordinates and integrates all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.
We serve you by providing information on natural and technological hazards that may affect you, your home or business. We give advice on how to protect yourself, your family and your home or business. We give technical assistance in development of emergency plans for public agencies and private sector. We can provide a guest speaker at your group or organizational meeting, a tour of the County EOC and information on how you can support your community in an emergency or disaster. We can provide information on emergency preparedness training opportunities and emergency volunteer opportunities.
DEFINITION
Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters.
VISION
Emergency management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters.
MISSION
Emergency Management protects communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to militate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.
PRINCIPLES
Emergency Management must be:
COMPREHENSIVE – emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
PROGRESSIVE – emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
RISK-DRIVEN -emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
INTEGRATED – emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
COLLABORATIVE – emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
COORDINATED – emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
FLEXIBLE – emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.
PROFESSIONAL – emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continuous improvement.
Who We Are & What We Do
Safeguarding the life and property of its citizens is an innate responsibility of the governing body of each political subdivision of this state. According to law, each county must establish and maintain an emergency management agency within the scope of the Michigan Statutes.
The Emergency Management Manager is responsible for developing, and coordinating programs that protect the public’s health and safety from large scale natural and technological hazards. We serve the entire Ionia County area and coordinate with respective municipal, state and federal agencies.
During an actual or threatening large-scale emergency, our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will be activated. The EOC serves as a focal point in facilitating the coordination of emergency response agencies, emergency relief organizations, county departments, municipalities, media and other essential entities.
We monitor weather conditions, develop emergency response plans and guidelines, provide mutual aid assistance to surrounding areas, comply with state and federal emergency management requirements and standards, review annual Emergency Plans and determine local resources and public shelter space.