Prevention

New Hanover County Emergency Management utilizes Departmental and County resources, as well as Staff expertise to reduce Community disaster risk and the need for emergency interventions.

Departmental efforts include scenario planning, preparedness exercises, public education and hazard mitigation.

Preparedness

Emergency Management maintains trained personnel ready for deployment in the event they are needed during emergencies or disasters. Equipment and supplies are also maintained in a ready state, and are strategically positioned for deployment.

As part of our mission, not only do we maintain a readiness stance, but we also provide community training programs to both Public Safety Agencies, Industry, other County Departments, and the Community at large. This training has the effect of better preparing our emergency responders and the community to work together in times of emergency.

Response

The Department maintains a 365 day-a-year, 24 hour per day, on-call posture for both high-impact (those that affect large portions of the population) and low-impact events (emergent situations that have citizen impact).

These events include hazardous materials incidents, search and rescue, aircraft incidents, multiple agency emergent incidents, radiological incidents, situations involving the Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant, natural disasters (wind, flood, fire and earthquake), technological disasters, Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, and acts of terrorism.

The Department may respond on scene as deemed appropriate to serve as a liaison between the Incident Commander and outside agencies. The Director, or his designee, coordinates all requests for State or Federal agency support.

The Department may also bring to the incident any number of pieces of equipment that exists in its equipment cache. These include Mobile Command Posts, Support Vehicles, Generator Sets, Boats, Shelter Sets, and other specialized response equipment.

The Department can also bring support personnel to incidents. Through its Response Emergency Management Organization (REMO), a volunteer cadre consisting of multi-disciplinary personnel who have been specially trained, the Department can quickly and efficiently provide logistics support, overhead personnel, and special task forces and strike teams. The Department can provide Radiological Monitoring Teams, Search and Rescue Teams, Boat Crews, Communications Teams and material handling personnel.

Recovery

After a large scale incident or disaster, New Hanover County Emergency Management has several responsibilities that must be carried out in order to provide for a safe environment for our County's citizens.

These responsibilities include compiling damage assessments, initiating requests for State and Federal disaster assistance funds, coordination of delivery of relief supplies, initiating and canceling curfews, and re-entry coordination.