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1. What is Emergency Management?

Emergency management involves planning, response, assignment and coordination of available resources, requesting of additional resources when shortfalls are observed, mitigation, preparedness, and recovery for natural or man-made emergencies. It provides for the safety of our citizens. Since most known possible hazards have been identified, we continually review and develop plans to address the needs before, during and after an emergency or disaster. We work together with our cities, neighboring counties, and Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security in order to ensure a correct and adequate response will be made in the event of an emergency or disaster.

2. What is CodeRED?

Oconee County has utilized CodeRED for several years. CodeRED is a mass notification system that will serve multiple roles. Enrolled citizens can receive alerts such as weather warnings, water main breaks, road closures, etc. This system is robust and allows us to communicate with the community with greater efficiency, which in turn makes Oconee County a safer place.

To sign up for CodeRED, click here: CodeRED enrollment

App Store for iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/codered-mobile-alert/id468404991
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ecnetwork.crma

Additionally, Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) alerts are available via CodeRED. We have the proper clearance to send those messages to anyone within the counties during calamities if necessary. For more information on IPAWS, click here: IPAWS FAQ

3. How can I prepare for a tornado?

Create a Ready Georgia profile. Go to the following website: https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/ready-georgia and create a profile. Once the profile is created, follow the recommendations for a customized preparedness strategy for you and your household of humans and other creatures. If you follow these recommendations, you will find yourself prepared for most disasters that could come our way.

Follow National Weather Service tips. Go the following website: https://www.weather.gov/ama/severesafetytips. This will lead you to a wealth of information on tornadoes and other severe weather.

4. What is the difference between a Watch and a Warning?

Quite simply, a severe weather watch indicates potential risk for severe weather. A warning means that severe weather has either been spotted on radar or by a spotter within that specific area.

Here are the technical definitions, according to the National Weather Service:

Watch: A watch is issued when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. It is intended to provide enough lead time so that those who need to set their plans in motion can do so.

Warning: A warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, is imminent, or has a very high probability of occurring. A warning is used for conditions posing a threat to life or property.

For additional weather terminology information, you may visit http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/

5. Does Oconee County have outdoor severe weather sirens?

No! Severe weather sirens are expensive, maintenance intensive, and generally are outdated technology. Modern times have given way to methods significantly more reliable for warning citizens about coming severe weather. Those methods include NOAA weather radios, emergency messaging such as through CodeRED, RELIABLE news and weather smartphone apps, and handheld lightning detectors. Additionally, Oconee EMA remains in constant communication with the National Weather Service regarding upcoming severe weather. While Oconee EMA cannot assume responsibility for brokering of weather information, the agency will communicate with governmental and private response partners regarding preparedness for severe weather. Additionally, Oconee EMA will update social media and the EMA website when time permits. We will provide you with information via the above channels in advance of a storm in order ensure ample opportunity for preparedness.

If you live or work in a place with weather sirens and have found this page, please understand that weather sirens are only intended to be heard outside. A weather siren near your home or business cannot be relied upon to wake you or alert you while inside. This is another reason why they are not a viable option for Oconee County.

For recommendations on the smartphone apps used by EMA staff, give us a call.

6. What is a State of Emergency?

In general, a state of emergency is a declaration by the government that suspends normal governmental functions, alerts citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or begins implementation of emergency preparedness plans in certain geographic regions. States of emergency are declared at the municipal, county, and state levels.

• LOCAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY: Oconee County can declare a “local state of emergency” even before the Governor makes his or her declaration. However, a local state of emergency serves primarily to alert citizens and staff of emergency conditions and to enact certain local emergency ordinances and procedures for dealing with emergencies. Although there is no specific statutory authority for declaring a “local emergency,” we may use this as an order to trigger provisions of the emergency management ordinance that do not require the Governor’s declaration. For example, in a local state of emergency, Oconee County can activate the emergency management ordinance, which waives time-consuming bidding requirements and other formalities. While the special powers that accompany a declaration by the Governor do not apply during a local emergency, a local declaration does allow Oconee County Board of Commissioners some of the other flexibilities to respond to the emergency while awaiting the Governor’s declaration. A local declaration can come before or after a state declaration.
• STATE DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY: When an emergency occurs that may overwhelm the resources normally available to the county, the Governor can declare a state of emergency. The Governor’s declaration of emergency authorizes the state and county to exercise emergency powers outlined in statute. A state declaration is typically the first declaration when a disaster strikes. Counties have special powers during a state declaration of emergency. Including these powers and how they are implemented in a county’s ordinance makes this vital information easily accessible and makes the authority and ability to take certain actions clearer. In the midst of an emergency, there is no time to waste trying to sort out the chair’s authority or how to implement the chair’s special temporary powers.
• FEDERAL (PRESIDENTIAL) DISASTER DECLARATION: When appropriate, the President of the United States may declare a federal disaster. The declaration might not be made until after the event has occurred. An effort by federal officials to assess damage may be employed to determine if a situation warrants a Presidential declaration. When the President signs a declaration of disaster, it allows FEMA to use its resources to help manage the emergency and allows other federal agencies to offer assistance in areas included in the declaration. In such a case, the citizens and businesses in any county included in the declaration may have access to federal grants and low interest loans to help repair and restore property. Any county included in the declaration may be reimbursed some of the costs of recovering from the disaster through FEMA. However, boards of commissioners must prepare to pay up front for emergency services, because the declaration may be delayed. Even when the declaration is immediate, reimbursement may take several months, or even years, to be processed. In order to be eligible for FEMA reimbursement, counties must comply with several conditions that require good record keeping. FEMA generally requires counties to comply with county established procedures while responding to an emergency. In the midst of a disaster, there may not be time to bid out emergency supplies or services according to the county’s regular purchasing ordinance or policy. Oconee County has an established exception in its ordinances for emergency purchases and the county will follows it when buying emergency supplies, which will align the county with regulations entitled to FEMA reimbursement. FEMA also requires that a mutual aid agreement be in effect in order to reimburse the county for money paid to other governmental entities for assistance during an emergency.

7. What is an EOC and where is it located?

EOC stands for Emergency Operations Center. An EOC is an area set aside for use by Emergency Management during a disaster to conduct operations regarding the disaster that include conduct emergency communications, distribution of information to stakeholders and the media, and an area for elected officials. We are fortunate here in Oconee County in that our EOC is co-located with the Sheriff's Office and E-911 in Watkinsville, where we are able to make use of the EOC for multiple purposes including training and meetings for public safety personnel.