Office of Emergency Management


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What is Emergency Management?

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Emergency Management is the organization and management of resources and responsibilities for dealing with all aspects of emergencies (preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.) The goal of emergency management is to reduce the harmful effects of all hazards. Effective emergency management relies on the integration of emergency plans at all levels of government and non-government, including individuals and community organizations. In Texas, disasters begin, end, and are managed at the local level. 

The overall goals of emergency management are to:

  • Reduce loss of life
  • Minimize property loss and damage to the environment
  • Protect jurisdictions from all threats and hazards


5 Steps Of Emergency Management

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Prevention PictureMitigation PicturePreparedness Picture

                                                                                         

Response Picture Recovery Picture



5 steps of EM

History of Kaufman County Emergency Managment


The Office of Emergency Management was established in 1989 pursuant to the Texas Government Code Section 418 and the Texas Administrative Code Title 37 Part 1 Chapter 7. The first Emergency Management Coordinator, Don Lindsey Sr. was appointed by County Judge Maxine Darst that same year. Don served as the County’s Emergency Management Coordinator, as well as Fire Marshal, until 1999 when Kathy Morris assumed the position of Emergency Management Coordinator upon Don’s retirement. Kathy served as Emergency Management Coordinator until October 2010 when Steve Howie took over the job as our current EMC.

 The original Emergency Management Plan was all of five pages long and now today’s Plan is some 1897 pages in length. It encompasses many types of disasters that were not even thought of when the department began, such as terrorism, cyber attacks, and mass fatalities to name a few. The original basic plan has also evolved and is now a Texas Division of Emergency Management approved Advanced level plan.

 The Office itself has grown from being a part time position in another department receiving attention only when a disaster occurred to a full time office with three full time employees. The office itself has been recognized regionally as one of knowledge, dedication, and integrity.