Jim Davidsaver is the Director of the Lincoln Lancaster County Emergency Management Center (EMC). The Center has a Mission which makes them responsible for facilitating the continuation of government operations in times of disaster or major emergency. It coordinates county, city, private sector and volunteer services to facilitate and enable continuity of operations countywide.
When you are looking at doing a national preparedness goal you are looking at the following:
Prevention – The EMC must have the capabilities necessary to avoid, prevent or stop a threatened or actual act of terrorism. This means preventing imminent threats.
Protection – The EMC has the capabilities necessary to secure the homeland against acts of terrorism and human-caused or natural disasters.
Mitigation – The EMC has the capabilities necessary to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.
Recovery – EMC has the capabilities necessary to assist communities affected by an incident to recover effectively.
Response – EMC has the capabilities necessary to save lives, protect property and the environment and meet basic human needs after an incident has occurred.
Jim told us that some funding comes from the Homeland Security Reimbursement, where 50% is used to pay the Emergency Management staff salaries and benefits. They do get Federal dollars for administration from the State and Local governments. The EMC is located at the Emergency Operating Center (ECO) which is located at 1200 Radcliff Road.
There are several functions that the EMC performs. They act as a liaison between emergency management agencies and City-County executives; assist schools, hospitals, nursing homes, business and industry in developing and implementing “all hazards” plans; develop and maintain City-County warning and mass notification systems; instruct and assist the general public in disaster preparedness and response planning; plan and conduct preparedness, response and recovery training exercises; and plan and prepare for continuity of operations during disasters and declared emergencies.
When an emergency occurs the EMC core functions that they perform are -- Communication, warning and mass notification; direction, control and coordination; emergency public information; health and medical services; information collection, analysis and dissemination; mass care and emergency assistance; public protection; and resource Management.
The EMC has may daily functions that they must respond such as – Emergency Management program functions that must be performed daily; communicate and warn the public especially if are experiencing severe weather; they must continue to deal with hazard mitigation, keep up with the laws and work with authorities, keep up with their operations and procedures, continue to plan how they might handle different situations, education and keep the public informed and continually train for whatever might happen.
They must also be prepared and maintain the EOC for use at any time. There is training for the storm spotters and coordinate with them whenever we have severe weather. Many Amateur Ham Radio operators are also storm spotters and volunteer their time whenever we have severe weather.
Remember when we do have severe weather or any other type of disaster, keep the EMC or EOC in mind because they are the ones that are helping us get through this difficult time.