Emergency Management Frequently Asked Questions
What is Emergency Management?
Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency Management is practiced at the local and state levels of government. Emergency Management consist of four primary activities: Hazard Mitigation, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Response and Recovery.
What does a County Emergency Manager do?
Typically, County Emergency Managers are responsible for the planning, development, educational outreach, budget, and overall coordination of a jurisdiction’s emergency management program. They are also the primary point of contact and liaison with State and Federal Personnel, and for agencies responsible for providing emergency management services.
Is Emergency Management part of Law Enforcement?
Not everywhere. Some jurisdictions do run their programs through the local law enforcement, but a majority are self-supporting agencies.
What is NIMS?
National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the national approach to incident management. It provides the incident management template for all jurisdictional levels and across functional disciplines regardless of incident cause, size, location, or complexity.
How do I find contact information for Emergency Managers in Nebraska?
You can contact the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency via https://nema.nebraska.gov/
Is Emergency Management required for each Nebraska County?
Yes, by Nebraska statute each county must have an Emergency Manager. Some counties share an Emergency Manager to manage emergency services within each jurisdiction.
Are Emergency Managers considered Emergency Responders?
In many jurisdictions they do respond to many different types of emergency incidents. Hazardous Materials would be the most common event outside of a Severe Weather event but many respond to fires and medical emergencies as well. In many cases Emergency Managers will respond to an EOC and provide services to the incident commander and Elected Officials.
What is an EOC?
EOC stands for Emergency Operations Center. An EOC is an area set aside for use by Emergency Management during a disaster to conduct operations regarding the disaster, conduct emergency communications, distribute information to stakeholders and the media, and an area for elected officials.