Monongalia County
Office of Emergency Management
74 Vandervort Dr Morgantown WV 26505
Working Together to keep our community Safe!
Every day, millions of people wake up, go to work, take kids to school, farm their land or go to ball games. But every so often the unexpected happens; an earthquake, a fire, a chemical spill or some other emergency. Routines change drastically, and people are suddenly aware of how fragile their lives can be.
Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. And each disaster has lasting effects -- people are seriously injured, sometimes killed and property damage runs into the billions of dollars.
Our Mission:
The Monongalia County Commission established the Monongalia County Office of Emergency Management in accordance with WV Code Chapter 15 Article 5 in July of 1988.
The Monongalia County Emergency Management Agency is tasked with coordinating response to disasters and other major emergency across the county. the agency's dedicated staff monitors the county for natural hazards and other emergency situations. During an emergency situation the agency coordinates the response of all local, county, state and federal agencies and releases key information to the public.
During day to day operations the agency monitors the county for potential threats and ensures that the county emergency operations plan is logistically possible if an emergency arises. During an emergency the agency activates the counties state of the art Emergency Operations Center. This center is the heart of activities and relief efforts for the county.
Although disasters can't be prevented, we can prepare to face them. Emergency Management works with local organizations to develop effective plans that deal with natural disasters and man-made emergencies. These plans are written to cover events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, nuclear power plant accidents, dam failure and hazardous materials incidents.
Emergency Management accomplishes its mission by coordinating the county's emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts. This broad authority to do so is provided for under the West Virginia Code Chapter 15, Article 5. Exercises dealing with events such as natural and technological disasters and terrorism are designed and conducted annually. These exercises involve local jurisdictions, federal/state agencies, volunteer groups, utility companies and other key private-sector groups. Intensive after-action reviews follow the exercises so that lessons learned can be incorporated into emergency plans.
In West Virginia we face several different types of possible natural disasters. Depending upon the situation at the time, we could have a winter storm and/or flooding issues. Flooding causes more than 90% of disaster-related property damage in the United States and accounts for more than 75% of presidential disaster declarations. During the years 1996 through 1998, West Virginia received more than $112 million in federal assistance due to natural disasters. An estimated 146 people lose their lives each year due to flash floods, the number one weather-related killer in the United States. West Virginia is no exception to this fact. In the last decade, 36 people have been killed in flash floods. Deaths by lightning during the same period was less than 5 and there have been no deaths due to tornadoes. Floods and flash floods are especially common in West Virginia, and it is important that we prepare for flooding prior to another occurrence.
If a disaster occurs in our community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you. But you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately after a disaster or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere. Families and individuals who prepare can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that surround disaster. People can also reduce the impact of disaster [flood proofing or elevating a home] and sometimes avoid the danger altogether. The important thing for residents to keep in mind is to be prepared to take action, if necessary, until emergency services personnel can reach them. You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in our area -- hurricanes, earthquakes, lightning, extreme cold or flooding. You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water and sanitation. There are steps everyone can take to try and ensure not only their own safety, but also their family's safety. To find out what you can do please visit ...
Family Disaster Plan: A Step By Step Guide
Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book
Learn more ...
visit the following pages:
Monongalia County OEM [PowerPoint]
