The mission of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is to assist first responders and our local public officials to save lives and protect property in the event of natural or man-made disasters utilizing the four phases of emergency management and by optimizing grant funding opportunities from state and federal sources.

MITIGATION – The process of reducing or eliminating the probability of occurrence of an emergency or disaster.  Mitigation activities should be considered long before and emergency or disaster occurs.

PREPAREDNESS – The planning stage which insures the most effective and efficient response efforts to minimize damages and lay the groundwork for emergency response operations.

RESPONSE – Provides emergency assistance for casualties, reduces the probability or extent of secondary damage, and other measures that will enhance the recovery operations.  Response is the first phase that occurs after the onset of a disaster.

RECOVERY – The process of returning all systems, both formal and informal, to normal.  Recovery activities continue beyond the emergency period immediately following a disaster and can be broken down into short-term and long-term activities.

Emergency Management is the organized analysis, planning, decision-making, and assignment of available resources to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from the effects of disasters.  The concept of Emergency Management requires the input and cooperation of all first responders, local officials, community partners, businesses, residents, and volunteers in order to be successful.

The Wood County Emergency Management Agency is under the direction of the Wood County Board of Commissioners and is in partnership with all the local political entities in Wood County.