Emergency Management 2018 Report

Emergency Management 2018 Report: High Level Of Response And Preparedness In Hunterdon

The Hunterdon County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) provided critical support for residents, responding to more than seventy incidents last year, and training over 4,500 First Responders with up-to-date emergency education and resources, according to the 2018 OEM Annual Report.

Freeholder Deputy Director John E. Lanza, the Board’s liaison to the County’s Office of Emergency Management, said, “Last year the county endured multiple storms, with heavy flooding, snow and loss of power. OEM’s annual report details the agency’s effective and efficient response to every situation.”

The Hunterdon County Office of Emergency Management responds in varying capacities to emergent incidents and preplanned events. According to the office’s mission statement, the OEM supports the County’s twenty-six municipalities by offering incident planning and management assistance, organizing resources and mutual aid when needed.

The annual report states that the OEM’s Everbridge Notification System sent public messages to inform residents of resources that were available during significant events. Shelter Operation Plans, real-time tracking of road closures and statuses, along with a dedicated webpage, which included crowd sourcing options, were also made available during the year.

The annual report also shares details about Functional exercises, essential training for OEM staff, held throughout the year. These exercises are typically focused on exercising plans, policies, procedures to provide key feedback during different emergency situations.

Emergency Management Coordinator, Brayden J. Fahey, said, “The Office of Emergency Management’s professional group of staff and volunteers operates with quality delivery of service in mind, and strives to meet the needs of our citizens, visitors and partner agencies to safeguard the quality of life in Hunterdon County that so many are accustomed to.”

All calls start with 9-1-1 and in the annual report, the Division of 911 Communications handled more than 155,000 calls across Hunterdon, Bucks, Mercer, Morris, Somerset and Warren Counties.

Freeholder Deputy Director Lanza added, “From answering a call at the 9-1-1 center to managing dangerous incidents, Hunterdon County’s OEM division is another example of the exceptional talent here in the county that serves our residents well.”