DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HOMELAND SECURITY

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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security

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Local Emergency Management Director: John Woods
DEMHS Area III Coordinator: Thomas Gavaghan

The Emergency Management Director (EMD) is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of the First Selectman. He advises the First Selectman of all Emergency Management matters and related laws, rules, regulations and requirements of Title 28 and Public Act 87-535 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance (as amended). The EMD develops, organizes, directs and coordinates the Town’s Emergency Management Program with the goal of saving lives and protecting property by maintaining emergency operational capabilities that mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from any emergency or disaster.

The EMD is responsible for accomplishing all Emergency Management functions such as:

Emergency Organization, Planning and Management;
Direction and Control Warning; and
Population protection and training and exercises.

However, emergency responsibilities assigned to the Ambulance, Fire and Police Chiefs, remain the responsibilities of those department chiefs.

The EMD duties include formulation of emergency management policies and procedures related to the function of emergency services during emergencies; plans, organizes and coordinates the Emergency Management activities of those operating departments, agencies and offices of local government which are responsible for carrying out response operations in an emergency.

During emergencies, the EMD assumes the overall responsibility for the operation of the Emergency Operating Center located in Town Hall. The EMD is responsible for advising the First Selectman on local emergency operations including the execution of appropriate increased readiness measurers should an international crisis occur. The EMD also serves as the liaison between Town, state and federal agencies of Emergency Management matters.