EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The role of Emergency Management is to protect lives, property and environment from natural and/or manmade disasters through preparation, mitigation, response and recovery and to maximize the protection and promotion of public safety, health and welfare during large-scale emergencies.

Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management is located within the Lake of the Woods County Sheriff’s Office and is responsible for the development and implementation of an all-hazard emergency plan to guide county personnel and resources during times of disaster and crisis including but not limited to: naturally occurring disasters, accidental or intentional man-made disasters, disease outbreak and many other potential situations.

Emergency Management is also responsible for opening and managing the county’s Emergency Operations Center. Criteria for Activation: The degree of Lake of the Woods County’s EOC activation will be determined by the severity of the emergency. The EOC may be partially activated due to a potential threat to life or property, or fully activated in response to a major emergency/disaster resulting in an actual threat to life and property.

Emergency Management serves as a liaison to local, state, federal agencies that work with Lake of the Woods County on day to day operations or during times of crisis. During times of significant community needs Emergency Management coordinates with local responders to acquire needed external resources

Lake of the Woods County Emergency Management is part of the Minnesota Homeland Security Emergency Management (Northwest) Region 3 Joint Powers Board and is a member of the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers. Participating in many preparedness initiatives including Winter Hazard Awareness Week, Severe Weather Awareness Week and National Preparedness Month.