About CCEMA

Between 1803-1930 Congress approved over 100 pieces of legislation giving relief or compensation after a disaster

The Council of National Defense was created August 29, 1916 – Suspended at the end of World War I. Reactivated by Roosevelt on May 20, 1941 as an executive branch office known both as the Office of Emergency Preparedness and the Office of Civil Defense. (OEP/OCD)

The Reconstruction Finance Corporation was created in 1932 to lend money to banks after the Great Depression. Also the first with responsibility for giving $$ after a disaster

The Bureau of Public Roads was then created in 1934 and iven authority to finance reconstruction of roads after a disaster

Congress passed the Flood Control Act of 1944, givinig flood management duties to the Army Corps of Engineers.

In the 1960’s the Department of Housing and Urban Development created the Federal Disaster Assistance Administration.

Civil Defense

A concept that evolved from WWI and the 20’s becoming formally part of the Executive Branch in 1941 and then was eventually absorbed into FEMA. In 2002 the Civil Defense responsiblities were part of what morphed into “Homeland Security.” Most commonly thought of as preparation for military attack during the Cold War and the “M-A-D (Mutually Assured Destruction) Doctrine.” Civil Defense was still referenced in the Emergency Management Statutes in Wyoming until changed officially to Homeland Security in 2003.

FEMA 

In April 1st, 1979 (no "fooling" - that was the date) The Federal Emergency Management Agency was activated.  It absorbed:

• Federal Insurance Administration
• National Fire Prevention and Control Administration
• National Weather Service Community Preparedness Program
• Federal Preparedness Agency (from GSA)
• Federal Disaster Assistance Administration (from HUD)
• Department of Defense’s Civil Preparedness Agency
• FEMA’s role was later expanded with:
  
• National Dam Safety Program
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
• Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act
• Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act
• Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
• National Flood Insurance Act
• National Security Act
• Defense Production Act
• Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Amendment (Counter-Terrorism)
• Various Executive Orders

DHS - Department of Homeland Security

On November 25th, 2002 the Department of Homeland Security was created

It absorbed:

• FEMA
• U.S. Customs Service
• Immigration and Naturalization Service
• Federal Protective Service
• Transportation Security Administration
• Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
• Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
• Office for Domestic Preparedness
• Strategic National Stockpile
• National Disaster Medical System
• Nuclear Incident Response Team
• Domestic Emergency Support Teams
• National Domestic Preparedness Office
• CBRN Countermeasures Programs
• Environmental Measurements Laboratory
• National Biological Warfare Defense Analysis Center
• Plum Island Animal Disease Center
• Federal Computer Incident Response Center
• National Communications System
• National Infrastructure Protection Center
• Energy Security and Assurance Program
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Secret Service

Despite the name, we don't "manage" emergencies. Instead, we coordinate between the various levels of government, agencies, businesses and the public.

Emergency: "Something beyond your ability to manage...you need additional help or resources. Commonly involves danger to life, property or the environment."

Management: "The act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives. Includes planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing and coordinating an organization or effort to accomplish a goal."

The Emergency Management Cycle

Our focus is on Planning, Preparedness, supporting and coordinating during Response, Recovery and Mitigation.

Planning is when we're working on helping to figure out what should be done and how to do it.

Preparedness is when we're working to be ready to respond in accordance to the plans that have been developed for emergencies and disasters. This includes training, equipping and practicing.

Response is the smallest segment of the entire cycle...this is red lights and sirens time...and we work to support and coordinate with those agencies, businesses and citizens that are involved in dealing with the emergency.

Recovery is the largest component of the entire cycle and takes the most time, money and effort. This is when we're all working together to bring life back to what will be the new "normal."

Mitigation is either the last or the first part of the cycle. This is where we take steps to reduce the impact and effects on life, property and the environment when emergencies or disasters occur. Think of it as putting on your seatbelt when you get into a vehicle. You aren't planning on having an accident...but by wearing your belt, you lessen the chances of serious injury or death if one occurs. Mitigation are the steps we can take to either keep bad things from happening, or if and when they do, they don't have as much impact or do as much damage. If the bridge washed out, do we want to put it back exactly the same size as last time or do we want to make the opening bigger and higher? If the building fell down, lets make it stronger and better.

We're Here to Help

 Government will never be able to do it all. A strong, prepared community must have involved and trained citizens and it's the businesses and private sector that has the resources (people, equipment, skills and knowledge) that we'll need in times of crisis.

Emergency Management "coordinates."  We work as a liaison, a go-between, for the public and for the various agencies. If there are training or preparedness needs, we may be able to help.