This system was originally created by the Federal Government under the Civil Defense Act of 1960. This Act established a system of local, public defense to protect the population of the United States from the threat of nuclear attack. The Emergency Management System is based on four distinct phases of operation. Each of these phases are intimately linked to produce an effective means of managing emergency and disaster situations. This phase of Emergency Management represents the largest portion of our duties.
Preparedness involves many hours of preparing, or getting ready for the big event.
It not only involves agency preparedness, but it also involves preparing the general public. Here's where the tires meet the asphalt, so to speak. In the Response phase, we actually respond to the emergency or disaster situation as it is happening. We respond by coordinating the actions of other Federal, State and Local agencies such as Fire, Emergency Medical, Law Enforcement, and even Military personnel and equipment when needed. The Recovery phase starts when the immediate threat of a natural or man-made emergency or disaster is over.