Emergency Management Agency

The Bureau County Emergency Management Agency is charged with planning for, coordinating, responding to and recovering from all disasters, natural or man-made. It is extremely important for all local police, fire, ambulance and response agencies to provide the county with an efficient and coordinated response to major emergencies or disasters. From tornadoes or severe storms, plane crashes or explosions, fire, floods – there are a variety of potential emergencies that need to be planned for.

Bureau County EMA also works with individual communities, utilities, churches, businesses, and schools to prepare them for emergencies. This is an agency that we hope we will never have to use, but of critical importance to save lives and property should the need arise.

The mission of the Bureau County Emergency Management Agency as established by ordinance of the Bureau County Board is to prevent, minimize, repair and alleviate injury or damage resulting from natural or man-made disasters, major emergencies, enemy attack, sabotage or other hostile action in accordance with the Illinois Emergency Management Act. The mission of BC EMA is deliberately broad. BC EMA’s primary responsibilities are accomplished through coordination and support of disaster preparedness, planning, response and recovery efforts of Bureau County and its political subdivisions in conjunction with the State of Illinois, private organizations, businesses, and the public.

Bureau County EMA accomplishes its mission through different methods or efforts including developing emergency plans; conducting disaster exercises; developing emergency communications and warning systems; coordinating operations of specialized emergency response units; providing public awareness and education; and, guidance to local units of government. BC EMA is often called upon to respond to emergency situations as a coordinating agency or a support agency. BC EMA maintains a staff of volunteers capable of assisting in a variety of areas.

BC EMA follows the National Incident Management System (NIMS) for all incidents in the county. Our team is trained to be interoperable with other agencies from local to national levels