Emergency Management

PERRY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

The Perry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) has the intent to provide coordination and support in a time of need during a disaster (natural or manmade), incident or situation. Also to see that all the available support along with resources are secured for the safety and welfare of the communities and citizens of Perry County.

Perry County EMA supports the needs of the emergency service departments and personnel within the County with training, education, material items and financial support when appropriate.

Perry County EMA is now the new housed location for Floodplain Management within Perry County. Jessica Dodson-Pierce was appointed Perry County Floodplain Administrator on January 8th, 2024.

In addition, the Perry County EMA is responsible for the Perry County Safe Community Grant & the Appalachian Regional Safety Council. The Perry County Safe Community grant allows Perry County residents to receive information regarding traffic safety. The Appalachian Regional Safety Council provides education along with the opportunity for a workers compensation discount to employers we serve the following counties Perry, Athens, Hocking, & Vinton.

Perry County EMA communicates with all local, state and federal agencies that may be utilized in the scope of duties performed by this agency when logistics and financial services are required for our county in a disaster or large-scale incident situation.

If you have questions about the EMA or LEPC, please feel free to call us at (740) 342-1141, send an us email, or stop by the office during our regular business hours of Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. We are closed on all legal holidays.

LEPC Meetings are held the second Tuesday of January, July, and September.

Safe Community Meetings are held quarterly the second Tuesday of March, June, September and December.

STAFF
Jessica Dodson-Pierce, Director
Appointed as Perry County EMA Director December 2nd, 2023
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Karen Williams, Administrative Assistant & Grant Coordinator
Appointed as Perry County EMA Administrative Assistant & Grant Coordinator December 2nd, 2023
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Is Emergency Management?
Emergency Management implements procedures to reduce eliminate or minimize the impact of disasters on our citizens. Many of you will remember us as Civil Defense. Probably the most vivid reminder is when we see a yellow and black shelter marker still on a public building today. Until a few years ago, we could find bulk containers of water, crackers and candy along with blankets and other shelter items stored at these locations. These items have all been removed and the Red Cross handles sheltering for our communities. Emergency Management Agencies have replaced Civil Defense, and the emphasis has changed from nuclear disasters to natural weather emergencies, weapons of mass destruction, biological and chemical incidents, hazardous material (HazMat) incidents and terrorism.

Emergency Management serves as a resource to first responders at all incidents. Local HazMat teams are specially trained to properly handle chemical spills, search and rescue teams are properly trained to rescue those trapped and personnel are specially trained to handle weapons of mass destruction situations. If the local resources are totally committed and more assistance is needed, your local Emergency Management Agency requests state and national assistance.

In Ohio, local requests for assistance go to the Ohio Emergency Management Agency which provides state resources or requests Federal resources if they are not available in the state. Part of this process requires local government officials to pass a declaration.

A good example of this process is the need for debris removal assistance from the public right-of-way following a disaster. If the local resources are not able to provide manpower and equipment to remove and haul the debris, due to the large number of debris left by the disaster, contact would be made with the State of Ohio Emergency Management Agency to request resources to handle the problem. The resources would be assigned either by the Ohio EMA or requested from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). A Disaster of this magnitude would have a request from the Governor to the President for a Presidential Declaration.

When are cooling and warming stations established in Perry County?
Cooling stations will be established during the months of the summer heat of 90 degrees plus as the need is necessary. We will provide the list of these locations posted on our front door of the Perry County EMA Office, & to our Perry County EMA Facebook page.

Warming stations will be established during the winter months as necessary if we have severe winter weather. We will provide the list of these locations posted on our front door of the Perry County EMA Office, & to our Perry County EMA Facebook page.