Northampton County, Virginia

Northampton County Emergency Management

Mission

The Department of Emergency Management (EM) coordinates efforts to ensure the County is able to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of natural or man-caused disaster. The County uses an all hazards approach to emergency preparedness, which means planning efforts consider all types of natural and man-caused disasters that could occur in the County.

EM falls under the Department of Emergency Medical Services. However, emergency management encompasses the entire County. EM works in collaboration with other community groups, including the Red Cross, the Voluntary Action Center and others.

One of the critical service areas in the County is emergency preparedness, including public involvement. EM also is responsible for:

• Overseeing the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• Managing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Advising the Emergency Management Team, which includes the County Administrator, Sheriff, Fire/Rescue Commission Chairman, Department of Public Works Director, School Superintendent and Social Services Director
• Managing Homeland Security grants from the federal government

 

Accomplishments

• October 2003 ~ Purchased two (2) ATV’s for the Sheriff’s Office.
• May 2004 ~ Placed in service the first Thermal Imaging Camera in County. Now there are three.
• July 2005 ~ Updated Emergency Operations Plan dated 1988.
• November 2005 ~ Partnered with Northampton County School System to purchase generator for High School, which serves as the primary shelter.
• August 2004 ~ Updated boat belonging to the Sheriff’s Office, with new motor and other items.
• FY06 - FY07 ~ Participated in three drills; Anhydrous Ammonia Leak (table-top @ National Guard Facility), Pandemic Flu (functional exercise @ Shore Bank) and EOC Exercise (NC Administration).
• FY08 ~ Participated in two drills; Hurricane Exercise (functional exercise @ Chincoteague Municipal Center) and EOC Training Workshop (NC Administration).
• FY08 ~ Installation of Reverse 911 Alert System.
• FY09 ~ Participated in two exercise: Point of Distribution (POD) Exercise (Accomack EOC), Residential Delivery Exercise (Vaucluse) and Neighborhood Help Center (Bayview CHC).
• FY09 ~ Installed Roam Secure Alert System & EMNet (Emergency Management Network).
• FY09 ~ Completed relocation of Emergency Operations Center to Sheriff’s Office Building.

Goals

Goal – Ensure the County is able to mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of natural or man-caused disaster.

1. Objective – Update the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in 2010.

2. Objective – Exercise the EOP to ensure staff is prepared and ready to respond.

Hurricane Brochure

2009 Emergency Preparedness Brochure