Overall, the Division of Emergency Management is responsible for the governmental function that coordinates and integrates all activities to build, sustain and improve the capability to take care of threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism or other manmade disasters by:
- Preparing for them
- Protecting against them
- Responding to them
- Recovering from them
- Mitigate against them
Categorically, the Division is responsible for:
- Coordination of community partners in identifying ways to effectively mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from significant events
- Operating the Emergency Operations Center
- Coordinating the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
- Responding to emergencies on a 24/7 basis
- Exploring and implementing emergency technology programs
- Situational monitoring for threats and hazards
- Providing leadership for regional systems and programs
Emergency Operations Center
Burke County Emergency Management coordinates disaster response during an emergency from its Emergency Operations Center (EOC). From this one location, staff members are able to coordinate fire, law enforcement and emergency medical service personnel to provide assistance to those parts of our community that need assistance.
During an emergency, the EOC is usually staffed around the clock to provide this coordination and handle various requests for assistance.
Burke County Emergency Management, in cooperation with Burke County Social Services, Burke County Public Health and the American Red Cross, opens emergency shelters and reception centers when disasters force citizens to evacuate.
Training for Disaster Response
Burke County provides training and educational programs for emergency response agencies, business and industry, and the general public. These programs, offered through our Emergency Management Division, cover such topics as hazardous materials response, search operations, incident command, radiological events and recovery operations.