Emergency Preparedness & Response

Emergency Preparedness & Response

Evanston Residents Urged to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance

FEMA Logo.jpgEvanston residents affected by the late April 2013 flooding and storms may now call or go online to register for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state and federal officials announced on May 13. Learn more >>>.

 

Electrical Service Damage

Following a severe storm, there is a chance that damage has occurred to an electrical service. When service damage occurs, it's important to understand who is responsible for the repair. The following document differentiates the areas ComEd and the owner are responsible for.

ComEd - Know who is responsible.pdf

Mission

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The Evanston Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) is responsible for providing a citywide emergency management system that will integrate all available first responders and their respective departments and resources, key elected officials and the private sector into a cooperative disaster management team. In Evanston the Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for the planning and preparedness necessary to coordinate the elements of an effective emergency management program.

Citywide Incident Management System

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 Evanston uses the Incident Management System (IMS) to define roles and responsibilities and designate authority for City, state, and other government entities, and non-profit and private sector organizations that perform and support emergency response. IMS is designed to be scalable, facilitating the integration of additional organizations, such as private sector and non-profit entities.

Incident Monitoring

OEP tracks incidents affecting the City of Evanston 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OEP monitors radio frequencies used by the City's emergency responders, local news, weather conditions, and 911 calls, among other communications channels. It also maintains the City's communication link with local, state, and federal agencies, and notifies City officials when incidents or issues of concern arise.

Field Operations

Emergency response personnel from the Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Preparedness work around the clock to ensure emergency response plans are followed safely and efficiently. OEP sends staff to larger incidents to facilitate interagency communication and resource requests. Emergencies that may exceed the normal day-to-day resources require a coordinated response. OEP works to ensure information gathering, decision making, and resource allocations are carried out efficiently.

Emergency Operations Center

During major emergencies and large scale special events, OEP activates the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). With representatives from local, state, and federal agencies and private and non-profit entities, as appropriate; the EOC functions as a central clearinghouse for information coordination, resource requests, and decision making.

Public Information

During an emergency, OEP works to ensure agencies involved in an emergency response provide a unified, accurate, and timely message to the public. OEP delivers emergency warnings through the broadcast media using the City's emergency Radio station AM1650 WPXZ-497 and other media and local distribution networks.

Recovery and Relief

Following a Disaster, OEP works with government agencies and non-profit organizations to provide assistance to disaster victims and manage relief efforts and donations. OEP duties and recovery last long after the response and sometimes take months or years to bring the City to a complete recovery.