About Emergency Management

Our office coordinates and integrates all activities necessary to build, sustain and improve the capabilities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against disasters.

Mission

We partner with the community to prepare for, respond to, mitigate the impacts of, and recover from disasters.

Principles of Emergency Management

Comprehensive

We consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders, and all impacts relevant to disasters.

Progressive

We anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.

Risk-Driven

We use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.

Integrated

We ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and community elements.

Collaborative

We create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.

Flexible

We use creative and innovative approaches to solving disaster challenges.

Professional

We value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship, and continuous improvement.

Our Values

• Community Centered, Collaborative, Continuous Improvement

Roles

Public Education

A large disaster can disable or overwhelm the support systems upon which we depend; the public will have to be self-sufficient until the systems can be restarted. We offer services to those who live, work or visit the borough to help them better prepare to take care of themselves while the City is getting back on its own feet. Please check out our preparedness page for residents, workers, and visitors and our business program aimed at business owners.

Organizing Local Response

We want to ensure our borough operates as effectively as possible after a disaster to provide essential services to our citizens. Our office writes the borough's disaster plan, coordinates training and exercises, and maintains the emergency operations center. Our office's job is to support the agencies and elected officials that lead the response.

Recovery

After a disaster has occurred, our office facilitates getting the borough and public help. In a federally declared disaster, most of the funding comes from the federal government. We assist the public first by documenting the damage and forwarding it to the State to make a case for a federal declaration. Once it has been declared, we help the public access federal resources. We apply for federal assistance to fix government services that were affected by the disaster.