Department of Community Services

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Emergency Management Agency provides a Disaster Resource Web Site for Cook County that provides local governments and the public sector with information for preparedness and prevention in an emergency situation.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is responsible for providing a comprehensive emergency management system that will integrate all available operating departments, levels of government, and the private sector into a cohesive disaster management team. EMA Mobile Communications Center

Under the direction of the President of the County Board, the Cook County Sheriff is responsible for the planning and preparedness necessary to coordinate the elements of an effective emergency management program.

Objectives

To work with federal, state and local governments and the private sector to provide an efficient, coordinated response to emergencies/disasters.
To develop and maintain an updated database of available emergency resources.
To provide assistance to local governmental units to develop an Emergency Operations Plan designed to coordinate emergency response and recovery elements.
To offer a uniform set of guidelines by which a local unit of government can receive accreditation for its Emergency Operations Plan.
To promote cooperation and assistance (mutual aid) among local units of government in response to emergencies/disasters.
To encourage local units of government to emphasize continued emergency management training for emergency response personnel.
To network with and support the objectives of local Emergency Services (ESDA) programs.
To support the principles of professional emergency management by distributing emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation information to local units of government.

Affiliations
The Agency supports and is represented by membership in the following professional emergency management organizations:

Federal Emergency Management Agency
Illinois Emergency Management Agency
National Coordinating Council on Emergency Management
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission
Cook County Stormwater Management Committee — Technical Advisory Committee
Cook County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
American Society of Professional Emergency Planners

For more information on programs available through the Cook County Sheriff’s Emergency Management Agency, please call (708) 865-4766 or contact us by e-mail.