What is Emergency Management?

 Bowling Green/ Warren County Emergency Management is attached to Warren County Government and operates at the direction of Warren County Judge Executive. The emergency management director oversees the day to day operation of the local program. The local program also operates under the direction of the area, state, and federal offices of emergency management. Laws that govern this program are under KRS 39. Functional areas within EM include communications, emergency operations, training, preparedness, shelter survey, disaster planning, mitigation and recovery, public information and administration. 

The emergency management cycle is made up of four different phases. 

Mitigation: Mitigation is a primary role of emergency management offices and personnel. Mitigation is the measures that prevent or reduce the impact of disasters. This is done by proactive measures taken before an emergency or disaster occurs. Mitigating disaster situations to lesson damages from disasters will save lives and money by preventing the effects of disasters on communities.

Preparedness: Thorough planning is provided for population protection and disaster preparedness on the local level. Disaster preparedness, planning assistance and tornado shelter surveys are provided to local emergency services, facilities, schools, nursing homes, day care centers, etc. The local EM agency has the responsibility to develop and maintain a local emergency operations plan. This plan sets forth the policies, procedures and guidelines for the coordination and control of disasters and emergency response.

Response: The response phase includes the mobilization of the necessary emergency services and first responders in the event of an incident or a disaster. This is likely to include a first wave of core emergency services, such as fire-fighters, police and ambulance crews. They may be supported by a number of secondary emergency services, such as specialist rescue teams. 

Recovery: The recovery phase  consists of those activities that continue beyond the emergency period to restore critical community functions and begin to manage stabilization efforts. The recovery phase begins immediately after the threat to human life has subsided. The goal of the recovery phase is to bring the affected area back to some degree of normalcy.