Planning Assistance for Personal and Business Emergencies Emergency Management Local Emergency Planning Committee Chemical Emergencies Pipeline Safety Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Severe Weather

Coffey County Emergency Management

WHAT IS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?
Emergency Management in Coffey County combines a full-time staff of four and volunteers who work to protect the health and safety of the community. Many hundreds of hours each year are spent training for and responding to emergency and disaster situations. We provide community education, aid businesses who have hazardous materials with emergency planning and reporting, as well as all-hazards planning and preparation. Coffey County has a group of trained volunteers who specialize in severe weather spotting. Almost all County employees are trained in a emergency response function.

WHY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT?
Our emergency services (fire, law enforcement, EMS, etc.) and emergency support agencies (public works, public health, public information, etc.) know their specific jobs and do them well. On the surface, therefore, it might appear that the Emergency Management function is unnecessary. Many disasters (Hurricane Andrew, Northridge Earthquake, etc.) have repeatedly shown that the biggest problems stem not from the inability of individual response agencies, but from a lack of overall coordination and of an ongoing preparedness program. Emergency Management prepares for what we hope never happens and provides structure and coordination when it does. Emergency Management has pamphlets and brochures available on a wide variety of subjects ranging from weather awareness and safety, to preparedness for emergencies to recovery issues.

HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US?
The Emergency Management Department is located in the Courthouse Basement, 110 S. 6th St., Burlington, Kansas 66839. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Our office number is 620-364-2721 or 800-947-4685. After hours leave a voice mail or for emergencies, contact us through the Sheriff's Office at 620-364-2123.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
If you are interested in becoming involved with one of our volunteer groups, want more information on emergency preparedness, or need a guest speaker, call us. For additional information see the KDEM Homepage @ www.accesskansas.org/kdem or the FEMA Homepage @ www.fema.gov.