Office of Emergency Management
and
Homeland Security

The Office of Emergency Management / Homeland Security is responsible for preparing Hamilton County to effectively respond to and recover from natural and man-made emergencies and disasters. The department’s mission focuses on saving lives, protecting property, and maintaining continuity of government operations through comprehensive planning, coordination, training, and communications.

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The department develops and maintains a countywide, all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan in coordination with municipal, state, and federal partners. This includes planning for incidents ranging from severe weather and flooding to hazardous materials incidents, nuclear emergencies, and acts of terrorism. A key function of the office is ensuring local emergency plans align with state and federal requirements, supporting grant compliance, and maintaining readiness across jurisdictions.

Budgeted resources support the coordination of emergency response and training activities for multiple volunteer and career fire departments, rescue squads, and a hazardous materials response team. Funding also supports emergency communications and dispatch services with mobile back-up capability, ensuring continuity of operations during large-scale incidents.

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The department serves as the coordinating agency for Tennessee Homeland Security District III, overseeing multi-county collaboration and administration of federal homeland security grants. Additionally, the office works closely with public and private schools, higher education institutions, and private sector partners to enhance preparedness through training, exercises, and risk-reduction initiatives.

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Budget priorities further support continuity of operations planning, public warning and notification systems, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) response capabilities, nuclear preparedness coordination with the Tennessee Valley Authority, and outreach efforts to vulnerable and functional-needs populations.

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Through strategic use of operating and capital resources, the Office of Emergency Management / Homeland Security continues to strengthen countywide resilience, improve response times, enhance interagency coordination, and maintain compliance with state and federal emergency management standards.