About Us

 MISSION
The mission of the Mahaska County Emergency Management Agency is to serve the citizens of the county through effective planning for natural, man-made, and technological disasters. Our goal is to save lives and to protect property through coordination of an integrated emergency management system with all emergency response organizations, support services and volunteers. We will be an advocate for greater community efforts to mitigate and prepare for potential emergencies. We will support efforts to train and exercise emergency responders in both the public and private sectors. We will manage and coordinate efforts toward a rapid recovery from disasters with an effective disaster assistance program.

This agency is committed to effective actions to prevent some disasters and to reduce the impact of those over which we have no control. 

The Mahaska County Office of Emergency Management oversees the operations of the 911 Dispatch Center, the Hazmat Response Team, and the Mahaska County CERT team.  Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Develops and maintains the County's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan providing emergency management planning for the entire county
  
• Operates, maintains and enhances the Mahaska County Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• Coordinates emergency management activities, services, and programs within the county, including:
• Helps  people prepare on how to get through a disaster
• Helping equip local first responders
• Making disaster assistance available to our communities, businesses, and individuals
• Training and emergency simulations, including yearly drills and spotter training
• Serves as liaison to the State Division of Emergency Management and other local emergency management agencies and organizations
• Serves as the liaison and the coordinator of municipalities’ requests for State and Federal assistance during pre and post-disaster operation

The Office of Emergency Management is responsible for work in the development, implementation, and management of county-wide disaster prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The EOC, when activated, is a central location where representatives of local government and private sector agencies convene during disaster situations to make decisions, set priorities and coordinate resources for response and recovery. 

The role of emergency management as a service is ever expanding in scope and increasing its commitment to the citizens of our county. Mahaska County Emergency Management will implement a comprehensive all-hazards emergency management program using sound risk management principles that will improve quality of life and minimize effects after a disaster through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities.

Click here to learn more about the phases of emergency management 

 As required in Iowa Code 34A.3 the 911 Service Board is made up of  each political subdivision of the state having a public safety agency serving territory within the county and each local emergency management agency as defined in section 29C.2 operating within the area is entitled to voting membership on the joint 911 service board    

Click Here for Service Board Meeting Information

Click here to learn more about the 911 Services

The Mahaska County CERT was established to assist with disaster operations.  Since it started, it has grown into a fantastic resource for all responders in Mahaska County. CERT provides traffic control, fire rehab, and emergency support to our county and throughout the State of Iowa. You'll see CERT supporting local organizations with their scheduled events throughout the year as well.  CERT has been referred to as "The gold standard" by the State of Iowa.