Emergency Management Operations

The Town of Firestone Office of Emergency Management (OEM) plans and prepares for emergencies, educates the public about preparedness, coordinates emergency response and recovery, and collects and disseminates emergency information. To accomplish this mission, the OEM maintains a disciplined unit of emergency management personnel, including responders, planners, watch commanders, and administrative and support staff to identify and respond to various hazards.

Preparing the Town of Firestone for Emergencies

The following responsibilities fall to the OEM to prepare Firestone for emergencies:

  • Contingency planning: The OEM oversees planning efforts for natural and man-made hazards
  • Planning and preparedness activities: from contingency planning and nurturing private sector partnerships to conducting drills and seeking funding for future programs, these are central to the OEM’s mandate
  • Public-private initiatives: The OEM helps companies develop business continuity plans, conducts basic emergency management training and fosters public-private communications
  • Training and exercises: The OEM conducts Town wide preparedness exercises to test plans and response techniques and to identify areas for improvement

Coordinating Emergency Response & Recovery

The OEM works to ensure information gathering, decision making and resource allocations are carried out effectively by carrying out the following duties:

  • Emergency Operations Center (EOC): During major events, the EOC is a central point for information coordination, resource requests and decision making
  • Field response: The OEM responds to larger incidents to facilitate inter-agency communication and resource requests, and to ensure agencies follow incident command protocol
  • Incident monitoring: The OEM tracks local and national incidents affecting the Town of Firestone 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Recovery and relief: Following an emergency, the OEM works with government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance and disaster relief

Educating & Informing the Public

  • Public information: During an emergency, the OEM works to provide unified, accurate, and timely messages to the public
  • Ready Colorado: The OEM’s Ready Colorado preparedness campaign provides information to help Citizens of Colorado prepare for all types of emergencies