Mercer County Emergency Management provides an integrated emergency management system that prepares Mercer County for an emergency or disaster. Four phases or principals are utilized to develop this comprehensive approach.

Planning: This phase develops the plans used by communities during an emergency or disaster. It looks at the hazards within a community to determine the risks that could impact the population. Based upon the hazards and risks, a generic plan is developed which can be followed in any emergency or disaster. It provides a guide for all responding agencies, both public and private. Some common hazards planned for within Mercer County are flooding, tornadoes, winter storms, chemical storage and transportation accidents.

Mitigation: If certain hazards or risks can be minimized prior to the emergency or disaster, it can significantly reduce or eliminate the necessary response. An example of mitigation is building an earthen dike to protect the community from flooding.

Response: The mobilization of resources to meet an emergency or disaster. Based upon the plan developed, a coordinated response can be activated to save lives, protect property and prevent damage to the environment. It is not always possible to avoid an emergency or disaster, but one can hopefully lessen its impact.

Recovery: The period following an emergency or disaster that gathers the resources to allow a community to return to near normal activities. During this recovery phase a community may have an opportunity to change or rebuild in such a manner to further reduce the risks to the community. That takes planning which identifies what mitigating actions could lessen the response and the need to recover.

For Emergency Management Information/Notices go to:  www.mercercounty911em.com