DISASTER MANAGEMENT DIVISION

The Disaster Management Division is composed of three branches, the Operations Branch, the Area Coordination Branch, and the Recovery Branch. This division oversees many programs that deal directly with other state agencies, local government and first responders. The Division goal is to prepare for, coordinate, respond to, and help recover from any and all types of disasters, whether natural or man made.

Operations Branch

The Operations Branch has two broad missions. It is responsible for developing, revising and maintaining the guidelines and procedures required to activate and operate the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during times of crisis. During these times, it is through interaction with the state EOC that local governments gain access to state assets critical to their ability to meet disaster challenges. Close coordination with the IT Division and Planning Branch is essential to keeping the EOC ready to activate to assist with hazards are far ranging as a possible catastrophic earthquake event on the New Madrid Seismic Zone or a possible flu pandemic. Moving into the new EOC facility on Camp Joseph T. Robison has greatly increased the capability to meet these diverse threats The security arm of the branch is the main link to federal, state and local law enforcement resources working to combat the threat of terrorism to the citizens and businesses of the state.

Area Coordination Branch

The Area Coordination Branch is the eyes, ears and response arm of the agency. The state is broken into five areas for coordination and there is an area coordinator assigned to each one of these sections. In most cases, the area coordinator lives in the section to which they are assigned in order to make them more available to local government access. This branch provides assistance, coordination, guidance and information to local governments on grants available from ADEM or other sources, available training opportunities, and general information to help them operate their local emergency management programs. During emergencies, the area coordinator responds to the impacted county to provide assistance, support and coordination with the state EOC for asset requests and to act as a link for information going between local and state governments.

Recovery Branch

The Recovery Branch operations start with the response to the emergency and follow the disaster through final recovery. The branch works with individuals as well as local governments, state agencies, and private non-profit organizations. This branch is responsible for generating the documents that allow state and federal involvement through the disaster declaration process. They also supply the bulk of the Joint Field Office staff during federally declared disasters. This branch also oversees the programmatic aspects of the state and federal Individual Assistance programs and Public Assistance programs. The Individual Assistance staff manages the Temporary Housing Grant program and coordinates with the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services on the Individual and Family Grant and Other Needs Assistance programs. The Public Assistance staff coordinates project worksheet completions through review of supporting documentation and requesting of the required federal and state funds to move toward project closeouts.