About Emergency Management

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This page contains general information about the Emergency Management Department of Douglas County, Kansas.

• Vision Statement
• Mission Statement
• Awards

Vision Statement

The vision of Douglas County Emergency Management is that Douglas County, Kansas will be a community of cities and citizens who are disaster aware and disaster prepared.

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Mission Statement

The mission of Douglas County Emergency Management is to provide a comprehensive emergency management program to effectively mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all types of major emergencies or disasters; and to educate and train Douglas County citizens, responders, and governing officials so that a disaster’s impact on people, property, and communities is minimized.

This comprehensive emergency management program includes all four phases of emergency management:

Mitigation
Mitigation is any effort that reduces the threat or the impact of a disaster. Emergency Management maintains a hazard analysis and monitors occurrence of threats and risks to Douglas County. We also work with local government officials on ways to minimize the impact on disasters on Douglas County cities and citizens.

Emergency Management maintains a hazard analysis and monitors occurrence of threats and risks to Douglas County, and works with local governmental officials on ways to minimize the impact of disasters on Douglas County residents and communities.

Mitigation efforts can include the following:

• Floodplain regulations
• Zoning and building codes
• In your own home, building a storm shelter

Preparedness
Emergency Management is responsible for the development and maintenance of a comprehensive 'Local Emergency Operations Plan' that establishes a coordinated response and recovery effort for any disaster that may occur or threaten Douglas County, Kansas including regular exercises of this plan.

Preparedness also includes educating the public on the protective measures to take before, during and after a disaster, as well as working with public and private agencies on business continuity or emergency action plans. Emergency Management works with local first responders to ensure training for effective coordinated response occurs.





Response
Emergency Management serves as the point of contact for the Local Emergency Planning Committee that oversees the manufacture, storage and use of hazardous chemicals in Douglas County under the federal SARA Title III legislation. They are also responsible for the development, maintenance and activation of the Local Emergency Operations Plan, the development of a trained network of Skywarn weather spotters, and an emergency amateur radio network. Additionally, Emergency Management facilitates public warning and notification for weather and civil emergencies using the NOAA weather radio system and local media.



Recovery
Emergency Management coordinates all disaster response and recovery efforts in the Emergency Operations Center. This includes coordination of all state and federal resources, liaison with state and federal support agencies, coordination of local disaster volunteer efforts, documentation of disaster operation and any federal financial assistance, as well as coordination with local officials on the development of recovery plan for each community in Douglas County.

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Awards

Douglas County Emergency Management Receives Honorable Mention for 2010 National Citizen Corps Achievement Award

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has recognized the Douglas County Citizen Corps Council with Honorable Mention for the 2010 National Citizen Corps Achievement Award in the category of Preparing the Public Award. The Council has been recognized for demonstrating innovative practices and achievements that make the community safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage an emergency situation. As an Honorable Mention, Douglas County, KS Citizen Corps will receive a certificate from FEMA and will be promoted on the National Citizen Corps website and in other Citizen Corps materials. The award was announced on September 1, 2010.
Date Awarded: September 1, 2010
Press Release: 2010 Citizen Corps Award (PDF format)

Two Staff Members from Douglas County Emergency Management Receive 2009 Kansas Emergency Management Association (KEMA) Awards

On Thursday, September 17th, two Douglas County Emergency Management Staff members received state awards from the Kansas Emergency Management Association at their annual conference held in Topeka, Kansas. Sheila Meggison, Douglas County Emergency Management Planner received the state organization’s award for "New Emergency Management Professional of the Year." Douglas County's own Emergency Management Director, Teri Smith, was awarded Kansas's "Emergency Management Professional of the Year". Teri has been with Douglas County Emergency Management for 13 years. Both recipients were acknowledged at the banquet during the KEMA conference, which was held in Topeka, Kansas on Thursday, September 17th, 2009.
Date Awarded: September 17, 2009
Press Release: 2009 KEMA Award (PDF format)

Douglas County Emergency Management Receives 2009 National Citizen Corps Achievement Award

The Emergency Management Department of Douglas County, Kansas was the recipient of the 2009 National Citizen Corps Achievement Award Honorable Mention in the category of Collaborative Preparedness Planning. The award recognizes innovative practices and achievements that make our community safer, stronger, and better prepared to manage any emergency situation. The Douglas County Citizen Corps Council is representatives from governmental and non-governmental agencies throughout Douglas County who are actively involved on the Council. The award was announced at the 2009 National Conference on Community Preparedness, which was held in Arlington, Virginia on Aug. 9th - 13th, 2009.
Date Awarded: August 12, 2009
Press Release: 2009 Citizen Corps Award (PDF format)

Douglas County Emergency Management Receives 2009 Regional LEPC Award

The Emergency Management Board/Local Emergency Planning Committee of Douglas County, Kansas was the recipient of the 2009 Large Community Award for outstanding achievement in planning, prevention and risk reduction for 2009. The Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is made up of representatives from each Emergency Support Function and is dedicated to the preparedness for, response to, mitigation of, and recovery from all hazards which affect the citizens they serve. The award was announced at the 2009 Region VII Emergency Planning and Response Conference, which was held in Kansas City, Missouri on August 6th – 9th, 2009.
Date Awarded: August 9, 2009
Press Release: 2009 LEPC Award (PDF format)

Douglas County Emergency Management Awards Three Recipients With Preparedness Partner Awards

Preparedness Partner Awards are given annually by the Douglas County Emergency Management Board in recognition of an agency, business, facility or individual that: Participates with and/or supports the responsibilities and/or activities of the Douglas County LEPC Demonstrates initiative and leadership with local response agencies on preparedness and planning activities Exhibits a pro‐active approach/attitude towards the health, safety and well‐being of the community and/or its employees
Date Awarded: July 8, 2010
Press Release: 2010 Local Preparedness Partner Awards (PDF format)

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