Office of Emergency Management

WISE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VISION STATEMENT

Building a safer future through effective partnerships of local government, emergency services, private sector, and volunteer agencies and the citizens of Wise County to save lives, protect property and reduce the effects of disasters through preparedness, prevention, planning, response, and recovery activities.

THE MISSION OF THE WISE COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates the Wise County emergency management program to prepare, prevent, plan, respond to and recover from threatened or actual disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters. The OEM develops, maintains and implements the ability to direct, control, manage and coordinate emergency operations in cooperation with local, State and Federal governmental and private sector agencies.

Guiding Principles

Emergency management must be:

  1. Comprehensive – emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
  2. Progressive – emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and prepara­tory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
  3. Risk-driven – emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identifica­tion, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
  4. Integrated – emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community. 
  5. Collaborative – emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
  6. Coordinated – emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
  7. Flexible – emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges.  
  8. Professional – emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continuous improve­ment.