The Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) exists to help prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster and large scale emergencies of all kinds. The Department’s top priorities are:

Public Education and Awareness: establish strategies to help prepare the public for emergencies and build a culture of self-sufficiency.

Coordination and Communication: develop relationships between the local government and private and non-profit organizations.

Preparedness: develop an inclusive planning process and target the community via training and exercise programs.

Emergency Public Information: develop strategies and capabilities to warn the public about a disaster and coordinate the community recovery following one.

Resources and Personnel: maintain awareness of what skills and resources individuals and organizations can contribute, and work to encourage local organizations to broaden and strengthen their capabilities to assist.

Authority and Management: understand and assist in developing the capabilities of local management to provide command, control, and coordination of disaster response activities.

Voluntary Organizations: develop a community focused and coordinated approach amongst local nongovernmental organizations to ensure an effective disaster response.

Mobile Communications Unit:

The Mobile Communications Unit is a trailer-mounted multi-purpose communication suite that was developed with federal grant assistance. This equipment is intended for a variety of uses including specialized communications, as a focus point/backdrop for public education and outreach, as a mobile emergency management office, or in support of a mobile command post. The communications suite consists of the full spectrum of public safety radio and a comprehensive Ham radio package.

Mobile Command Post:

The mobile command post is a fully functioning Emergency Operation Center that can be taken to any remote location in Jefferson County. When deployed, it serves as the coordination center for all disaster operations and management including intelligence gathering, planning, logistics, fire, law, public works, mass care, public health and more.