Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
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| Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | May 29, 2003 |
| Headquarters | PO Box 53365 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Employees | 19 classified 5 unclassified |
| Annual Budget | $49.5 million |
| Minister Responsible | Kevin Ward, Secretary of Safety and Security |
| Agency Executives | Albert Ashwood, Director Fred Liebe, Deputy Director |
| Website | |
| ok.gov/OEM | |
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is an agency of the state of Oklahoma created by the Oklahoma Emergency Management Act of 2003. OEM is charged with maintaining a comprehensive statewide program of emergency management. OEM is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the federal government with other state departments and agencies, county and municipal governments and school boards, and with private agencies that have a role in emergency management.
The Director of the Department of Emergency Management is appointed by the Governor of Oklahoma with the advise and consent of the Oklahoma Senate, and serves as the agency head as well as the chief advisor to the Governor on emergency management.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
The mission of OEM is to minimize the effects of attack, technological and natural disasters upon the people of Oklahoma by preparing, implementing and exercising preparedness plans, assisting local government subdivisions with training for and mitigation of disasters, and by coordinating actual disaster response/recovery operations.
[edit] History
The Department of Emergency Management was originally created as the Department of Civil Defense by legislative action in 1951. Soon after its creation, the Civil Defense agency and the Department of Emergency Resources Management were combined into one unified disaster aid organization, known as the Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management. In 2003 the agency was renamed the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. Today it is the central point of contact for coordination of four closely allied functions: Hazard Mitigation, Community Preparedness, Emergency Response and Disaster Recovery.
[edit] See also
- United States Department of Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Oklahoma Highway Patrol
