Activation of the Emergency Operations Center during the August 18 & 19 Flood Event

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Abilene’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is to create, implement, and maintain a local community plan for managing major emergencies and disasters. The plan is consistent with and complements the comprehensive emergency management system for both Texas and the United States. Mission accomplishment will reduce the vulnerability of our citizens to injury and loss of life, and community to damage and loss of property. This can be done by providing a system for the mitigation of, preparation for, response to, and recovery from natural or man-made disasters, riots, terrorist activities, and / or hostile military or paramilitary actions.

Emergency Management Staff

Jim Bryan

Emergency Management Coordinator

(325) 676-6683

jim.bryan@abilenetx.com

Debbie Pannell

Emergency Management Specialist

(325) 676-6525

debbie.pannell@abilenetx.com

Local Emergency Management

• The Mayor of each incorporated municipality and the County Judge of each county is designated as the Emergency Management Director for each such political subdivision.
• As the Governor’s designated agents, the Mayor and County Judge may exercise the powers, on an appropriate local scale, granted the Governor by the Texas Disaster Act of 1975.
• The Mayor and County Judge may designate an Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC) to serve as an assistant to the presiding officer of the political subdivision for emergency management purposes.
• Political subdivisions may establish inter-jurisdictional agreements to manage and mutually benefit from local emergency management programs (Abilene & Taylor County, 1994)
• Federal dollars routed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administered by DEM under the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) are received locally (typically $40,000 annually) to help offset program costs.