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1. I thought this office was called Civil Defense?

Emergency Management was known as Civil Defense until 1974 when congress enacted the Disaster Relief Act (PL 93-288). That is the time when there was a shift from enemy attack mentality, to natural disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. That same year, the Department of Emergency Management for the state and FEMA for the federal government were both established.

2. What functions does the office perform when there is either a man-made or natural disaster?

The Emergency Management Director coordinates the response to an emergency and ensures that the response to an emergency is running as safely and efficiently as possible by coordinating the allocation and use of resources. We work hand-in-hand with law enforcement, fire, Public Health, EMS, Environmental Services and volunteer agencies like Red Cross and Salvation Army to make sure that the disaster response is as effective and efficient as possible.

Learn how to personally prepare for a disaster by visiting the Emergency Management webpage.

3. How can I make sure my family is prepared for a disaster?

It is important for all families to have a disaster plan and to practice their plan. Each family should also have a family disaster kit with items such as flashlights, water, a portable radio and extra batteries. For further information on how you can plan for your family before a disaster strikes, visit the Emergency Management webpage.

4. What functions does the office do when there isn't a disaster?

Responding and recovery from disaster is just a small part of functions of the Emergency Management Office. The office is responsible for:

• Applying for state and federal grants
• Compiling periodic reports and reviews that need to be submitted to state offices
• Coordinating various exercises to test the plan
• Educating the public on emergency management
• Participating in ongoing trainings in Emergency Management
• Providing assistance to local jurisdictions and county agencies before, during and after disasters strike
• Updates and revisions to the County Emergency Operations Plan

Nicollet County Emergency Management (NCEM) works closely with local, state and federal officials and cooperatively with neighboring jurisdictions, to better prepare for and respond to incidents ranging from tornadoes to terrorism to pandemics. To learn more about the office, visit the Emergency Management webpage.