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OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES & HOMELAND SECURITY
Grant Gunnoe, Director
304-348-8130
The City of Charleston Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the
agency of city government with primary responsibility and
authority for the planning and execution of disaster and
emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery for
the City of Charleston. OES works in conjunction with county
agencies and political subdivisions and related agencies in
state and federal government. OES is also responsible for the
coordination of operations subsequent to disaster and
emergencies and for coordination of hazard mitigation planning
activities.
The Office of Emergency Services is further responsible for the
preparation and maintenance of a comprehensive plan for the
disaster and emergency response of the City of Charleston. The
plan is integrated and coordinated with the disaster and
emergency response plans of the state and federal governments.
The Office of Emergency Services is authorized by City Code of
the City of Charleston.
The Office of Emergency Services is staffed by Director Grant Gunnoe and Deputy Director Mark Wolford. Mr. Gunnoe and Mr. Wolford have considerable training and experience in the fields of emergency management, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, and hazardous material response. Resources of the Office of Emergency Management include the Regional Response Teams and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The primary EOC is located at the Ned Chilton 911 Center and the backup EOC is located at City Hall.
The City of Charleston Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) was
revised in January of 2007. The plan will be reviewed and revised
on a continual basis. The EOP establishes policies and
procedures for coordination of city response to natural,
technological and attack-related disasters or other emergencies.
The EOP has been reviewed and approved by the Charleston City
Council and was adopted thereby as an ordinance of the city
pursuant to the Charleston City Code.
The Emergency Services Director works directly with the City of
Charleston Police and Fire departments to coordinate emergency
response efforts. These efforts are developed through public
education and training, including annual disaster exercises.
These exercises range from aircraft emergencies, hazardous
materials spills and terrorism incidents to severe weather
events such as flooding. Many events have been simulated to
better prepare the emergency response personnel of the City of
Charleston.
Disaster preparedness education has also been an important
aspect of the emergency management program of the City of
Charleston. Ongoing public awareness campaigns are being
developed in an effort to better inform citizens on what to do
in the event of an emergency.
Hazard mitigation is a key component of emergency services. OES
continues to review and update the City of Charleston Hazard
Mitigation Plan to provide information and direction for
evaluating all hazards that present a threat to the City of
Charleston and select appropriate strategies to mitigate
vulnerability to these hazards. The plan outlines procedures for
identification of mitigation opportunities that will eliminate
or reduce future damage from these hazards. The plan is intended
to serve as a guide for those agencies that have capabilities
and resources to coordinate mitigation programs with the city.
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