About Us

What is Emergency Management? Efforts of a political subdivision to develop, plan, analyze, conduct, implement and maintain programs for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. We are complying to NIMS requirements. We are a member of the Illinois Citizens Corps. We now provide the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Our agency is responsible for preparing our city's E.O.P., Emergency Operations Plan. Salem's E.O.P. is in place and has been approved for 2009 by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. We are located in the same building as the Police Department/911 Communications and the City Mechanic. Our E.O.C., Emergency Operations Center has a communications center to communicate with all Emergency Services in the city, county and now state mutual aid (mobile) communications. Weather radar is in place with N.O.A.A. Weather Radio, satellite weather alert and computer online services. A Smart Board has been added to the E.O.C. operations to assist with all in house training, including C.E.R.T. classes.

GRANTS

EMA Grant: We will receive nearly $10,000.00 for EMA Operations for 2009, it is the I.E.M.A. EMA Grant applied for by the City of Salem and approved by I.E.M.A. We have five Lap Top Computers for EOC Interoperable Communications, (all on line services) by way of a (ITTF/IESMA Grant). Salem DOEM has recieved $7000.00 2007 CERT Grant and another for $1200.00 for the Citizen Corps/CERT Programs, 2008 CERT Grant for $6000.00 has been approved. The IESMA 2008 ITTF Grant has been approved for $15000.00. With this grant, we will receive a Out Door Warning Siren for downtown Salem, a Smart Board and Interoperable Communications Equipment for the E.O.C.

We have 3 desk computers (on line services) within our agency. We participate with the state wide Typing Resources on line services with ITTF and IESMA. Our department holds regular monthly meetings and training sessions for our members. NWS Storm Spotter Training/drill sessions are also held with other City Emergency Services during the year. Many of our members have attended I.E.M.A. Courses during the past several years. Both our agency and the County E.S.D.A. work closely with each other in times of Emergency and non Emergency events. We also assist our local fire, police and public works departments. We always provide our resources to the county E.S.D.A. if needed. Some of our resources include; two large Cat 40KW Power units on trailers, four portable units, C.E.R.T. Trailer, a golf cart for administrative use, volunteer Snow Mobile resources and numerous Emergency Vehicles. We are also members of the Region 9 E.S.D.A. Council and I.E.S.M.A. Our programs include,

Mitigation - Activities designed to either prevent the occurrence of an emergency or long-term activities to minimize the potentially adverse effects of an emergency. Identifying resources, developing an Emergency Operations Center, building levees and designating land use.

Preparedness - Activities, programs and systems that exist before an emergency and are used to support and enhance response to an emergency disaster.

Response - Activities and programs designed to address the immediate short-term effects of the onset of an emergency or disaster. Helps to reduce casualties, damage and to speed up recovery.

Recovery - Short-term recovery actions include accessing damage, preparing reports, critiquing operations, cleaning and repairing equipment and closing shelters. Long-term recovery actions may continue for many years such as recommending changes in zoning and building codes ordinances, improving emergency operations plans, demolishing unsafe structures and building new structures.