What is Emergency Management?
This can be answered in many ways. As you visit EMA's (Emergency Management Agencies) throughout the state you will find job responsibilities differ from agency to agency. Even with these differences they all have common responsibilities to serve the public in the following ways.

Weather
Receive and disseminate severe weather statements from the National Weather Service to the public. This is a service that requires 24hr. Availability and close coordination with the National Weather Service.

Provide alert warning information to schools, governmental offices, industry as well as the general public. This is accomplished FM Radio, telephone and NOAA Weather Radio.

Conduct severe weather training in schools, industry and other organizations to educate the public about weather threats and how to react when watches and warnings are issued.

Coordinate mitigation projects to reduce the loss of lives and property of the residents of each participating county.

Develop emergency plans to prepare for natural disasters that could occur. This is simply a procedure guide or checklist to use in the event of an emergency. Responsibilities are assigned, contact lists developed, and step by step procedures are written to help organize response operations during the disaster, as well as in the recovery phase.

Some areas utilize alert warning sirens as a means of notification during severe weather i.e. Tornado Warning

Mission Statement

It is the intent of Pearl River County Emergency Management to reduce the vulnerability to the people of the county.

To prepare for, the efficient evacuation and shelter of threatened or effected persons and for the coordination of activities relating emergency prepareness, reponse, recovery and mitigation among and between both city, county and private organizations.

It is the intent of our Emergency Services Departments in Law - Fire - and EMS to respond to all emgencies when called upon to do so. Our emergency services shall be prompt, courteous, professional and in a correct manner.

We value life, safety and property for those individuals whom we serve.

We value our volunteers greatly who give of their time so unselfishly and to their dication and commitment to our communities and its citixens.

We value professional, well trained personnel, and their dedication and commitment to our county and cities.

We value the collection and distribution of accurate information.

We value the creation of information systems, which regularly evaluate the quality of the service we perform.