EMA Duties and Responsibilities

Duties
Fulfill requirements as set forth in KRS Chapter 39 and the Inter-local Cooperation Agreement between the Henderson County Fiscal Court and the Incorporated Cities of Henderson, Corydon, and Robards and to establish a comprehensive Countywide Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery program including, but not limited to the following:

  1. On call 24/7
  2. Meet annual training and exercise requirements as mandated by the KRS and FEMA.
  3. Represent the Cities, County and the executive authorities therein, in all matters pertaining to prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery of all emergencies
  4. Direct, control, supervise and manage the development, preparation, organization, administration, operation, implementation and maintenance of the comprehensive emergency management program of the county
  5. Develop, implement and maintain a local emergency operations plan which shall provide specific and effective mobilization of public and private resources of the Cities and County
  6. Organize and coordinate volunteer personnel and affiliated Rescue Squads to serve during an emergency or disaster
  7. Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs
  8. Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency
  9. Assist in preparing and analyzing damage assessments following disasters or emergencies
  10. Inform citizens through public information and educational programs for the protection of people and property in the event of any future emergency
  11. Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments and similar entities to facilitate plan development, ensure response effort coordination, and the exchange of personnel and equipment
  12. Apply for federal funding for emergency management related needs and administer and report on the progress of such grants
  13. Keep informed of federal, state, and local regulations affecting emergency plans and ensure that plans adhere to these regulations
  14. Draft, administer and monitor compliance of the local operating budget for the Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
  15. Maintain the 25+ Emergency Support Plans (different from the Basic Plan and the ESFs)
  16. Maintain Communications with and through the Region 2 office of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management 
  17. Direct Search and Rescue Operations (SAR) and REQUIRED paperwork for lost, overdue, or missing persons, either on land or water
  18. Maintain the Public Notification System (Hyper-Reach)
  19. Maintain Operational Readiness for the 34 County Outdoor Warning Sirens
  20. Appoint EM Deputy Director
  21. Appoint County Search and Rescue Coordinator, or serve in that capacity (KRS 39F.200)
  22. Process Monthly Claims (Emergency Management Program Grant [EMPG] Reimbursement)   
  23. Monthly Progress Reports
  24. Monthly Time Sheets
  25. Monthly Public Service Announcements (PSA)
  26. Monthly “Work Plan”- complete scheduled monthly task assignments
  27. Training (32 hours per year minimum)
  28. Complete the 25+ Required Independent Study Courses 
  29. New Director Training (40 hours classroom / residence)
  30. Exercises (develop, host, participate) - [4 required per year minimum]
  31. Attend National Weather Service (NWS) Seminars and Workshops
  32. Maintain EM Response Vehicles
  33. Maintain Mobile Command Posts (MCP)
  34. Maintain EMA Website
  35. Maintain Social Media Accounts
  36. Maintain Hazard Mitigation Plan through Green River Area Development District (GRADD)
  37. Maintain the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
  38. Maintain the Emergency Management Office
  39. Maintain Annual Membership in the Kentucky Emergency Management Association (KEMA) – served 3 terms as Region 1 and 2 Vice President
  40. Attend KYEM Region 2 Meetings
  41. Maintain a Local Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) Organization 
  42. Maintain Membership in the GRADD Citizens Corp Counsel
  43. Maintain Membership in the Henderson Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
  44. Maintain Membership in the local Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) 
  45. Maintain Membership in the GRADD Nursing Home and Assisted Living Group 
  46. Manage Community Emergency Response Team (Adult CERT)
  47. Maintain EOC Staffing Chart in the EOP
  48. Assist in Teen Community Emergency Response Team (TEEN CERT)
  49. General Public, Industrial, and Government agencies – Safety training and presentations
  50. Assist in and Provide Safety Inspections for churches, industrial facilities, day care centers, Nursing Homes and Assisted living facilities, hospital emergency safety planning
  51. Be able to use WEB EOC and SharePoint computer programs along with WORD, Excel, and Power Point 
  52. Prepare EMA annual budget (for County, City and KYEM)
  53. Reconcile LEPC Bank Statement
  54. Make VFD I.D. Badges

Responsibilities

The EM Director is an appointed position as per KRS 39B.010 and 39B.020 and is governed by KRS Chapter 39 and Kentucky Administrative Requirements Title 106 – Department of Military Affairs, Chapter 001 – Disaster and Emergency Services

KRS 39B.010 (3) - The local emergency management agency shall be an organizational unit of the executive branch of city, county, urban-county, charter county government, or counties acting jointly under the provisions of subsection (2)(b) of this section and shall have primary jurisdiction, responsibility, and authority for all matters pertaining to the local comprehensive emergency management program and, under the general supervision of the local emergency management director, shall serve as a direct function of the office of county judge/executive or mayor.

KRS 39B.010 (5) - All local emergency management agencies or local disaster and emergency services organizations in the Commonwealth, and the local directors, and members of each, shall, for all purposes, be under the direction of the director of the division, and of the Governor when the latter deems that action necessary.

39B.030 Powers, authorities, rights, and duties of local director -- Development of organizational structure. A local emergency management director, appointed pursuant to this chapter, shall have the following powers, authorities, rights, and duties:

• Para (6) - To be the chief advisor to, and the primary on-scene representative of, the county judge/executive, mayor, or executive authority of other local governments in the event of occurrence of any emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe within the local jurisdiction;

• Para (7)(a), To respond and have full access to the scenes of an emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe to immediately investigate, analyze, or assess the seriousness of all situations; to coordinate the establishment and operation of a local incident command or management system; to execute the local emergency operations plan, as appropriate; to activate the local emergency operations center or on-scene command post; to convene meetings, gather information, conduct briefings, and to notify the division of on-going response actions; and fully expedite and coordinate the disaster and emergency response of all local public and private agencies, or to have a staff assistant do so;

• Para (7)(b), At a declared emergency or declared disaster, at the direction of the county judge/executive or mayor, as appropriate, to take or direct immediate actions to protect public safety; however, this paragraph shall not preclude a local director from providing any assistance that he is requested to, and is able to, provide at any emergency.

KRS 39B.050 (3) The local disaster and emergency services organization shall be the primary disaster and emergency response force of city, county, or counties acting jointly under KRS 39B.010, urban-county government, or charter county government and an organizational component of the integrated emergency management system of the Commonwealth. The local emergency management director shall have primary responsibility for the coordination of all disaster and emergency response of the local disaster and emergency services organization for an emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe.