Purpose

The day to day role of Emergency Management is to prepare first responders, citizens, and businesses for a disaster. When disaster hits, Emergency Management coordinates emergency response agencies who work together to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Jackson County. Every disaster is a local event regardless of its size and Jackson County needs to prepare to accept primary responsibility for disaster response.

Location

The Emergency Management office is located in the Human Services Building:
1715 Lansing Ave.
Jackson, MI. 49202

Office hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Emergency assistance is always available by calling 911.

Four Phases of Emergency Management

Preparedness

This is the process of acquiring information and supplies to respond to an emergency or a disaster.
First Responders
Homeland Security Grant funds are used to provide training, conduct exercises, and purchase equipment to prepare those who will be responding in a disaster.

Citizens
It is easy to take for granted services like water, electricity, and phones, but in a disaster all of these may be unavailable. Everyone should be prepared to provide for themselves in their homes for three days before help arrives.

Businesses & Schools
Whether an event is natural, man made, or an act of terrorism, businesses and schools can be affected or may even be a target. Response plans are critical to protect our children and economy.

Mitigation

Preventative measures can reduce or eliminate the risk of property damage or loss of life from known hazards. The Jackson County Hazard Analysis identifies and ranks hazards based on their probability and potential for damage. This information then helps to direct and prioritize mitigation projects.

Response

Every day first responders work to keep us safe and protected but when an incident grows beyond the capabilities of one agency, or effects a large area or group of people, the decision may be made to open the County's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate response. In the EOC, responding agency representatives make decisions, prioritize resources, and coordinate efforts. Emergency Management's role is to provide these representatives with the supplies and resources they need to manage the response.

Recovery

The last phase of Emergency Management is recovery. This is when the primary threat to life and property has been removed and necessary systems and services are restored. The goal is to return life to normal.