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.

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The county's emergency management system is outlined in the State Code. The County Administrator is the Director of Emergency Management and the EMS Director is designated as the Coordinator of Emergency Management. Day-to-day operations and activities are coordinated by the Coordinator of Emergency Management. 

• To foster and encourage emergency planning and the development of operating plans, annexes, and procedures for the county.
• To advocate programs that mitigate against the impacts and consequence of disasters.
• To coordinate the response to large scale emergencies requiring the activation of the County's Emergency Management System and Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• To coordinate issues and foster planning associated with recovery activities after the disaster.
• To ensure that the county regularly exercises their response to disasters and receives the proper training to better prepare for disasters.
• To provide and support the dissemination of emergency public information to foster the community's awareness and preparedness.
• To maintain liaison and relationships with local, regional, state, and federal allied agencies that deal with emergencies.