PREPAREDNESS DIVISION
The Preparedness Division includes four branches and one program: Domestic Preparedness Branch, Training Branch, Exercise Branch , Mitigation Branch and the CSEPP Program.
The Domestic Preparedness Branch works with the Federal Department of Homeland Security to assess preparedness and determine the needs of emergency responders across the state. This branch manages the Office of Grants and Training (G&T) programs and oversees grant requirements and accomplishments. Also housed within this branch is the responsibility for fire services/emergency medical services/ citizen corps coordination including oversight of Arkansas Act 833 funds disbursement,
The Mitigation Branch's objectives include preventing future loss of lives and property due to disaster; overseeing development and implementing state and local hazard mitigation plans; encouraging mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from disasters; and, providing funding for previously identified mitigation measures that benefit the disaster area.
The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) was created in 1988 by Section 404 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. This Program assists in identifying mitigation projects and funding these projects on a 75% federal, 25% state/local cost share basis. Eligible applicants for HMGP are state and local governments and certain non-profit organizations. Types of projects that may be funded are: structural hazard control; retrofitting; acquisition/relocation; and, development of state or local standards to protect and substantially improve structures from disaster damage. Two very successful programs within the Mitigation branch have been the school safe room projects program and individual safe room/shelter program that make children, communities and individual homes much safer from the threat of severe storms.
The Training Branch is responsible for all professional and technical training that is provided to emergency services personnel through scheduled classroom instructions, seminars, workshops, independent study, conferences and distance learning opportunities. It is made up of the Emergency Management Section and the Hazardous Materials Section.
Training Section coordinates activities include Emergency Management Institute offerings, and Terrorism Preparedness training through Homeland Security as well as training courses offered for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) . Training schedules are published on the ADEM web page and courses are available to all who have a role in disaster response and recovery.
The Hazardous Materials Section is responsible for the collection and fiscal administration of fees generated from users of hazardous materials identified by law as hazardous and toxic. It provides a point of contact for state and local agencies and the private sector to assist with the coordination of specific emergency planning, training, exercising, and other hazardous/toxic materials emergency management related programs including hazardous materials classes through SARA Title III and HMTA. It provides a direct emergency management support to Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC’s) and manages other current HAZMAT programs, and other programs that may be mandated by federal, or state law, regulation or guidance. The HAZMAT section of the Training Branch is also responsible for collection and data base storage of annual Tier II report and Form R.
The Exercise Branch is responsible for coordination and documentation of all exercises conducted by both state and local government agencies. The Exercise branch is active in exercise programs funded from the Office of Domestic Preparedness using the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP), CSEPP exercises in support of the Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) demilitarization effort, Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercises in support of Arkansas Nuclear One and various other Emergency Management exercises. This branch provides oversight and coordination of state and local emergency exercises, conducts evaluations as required and tracks and maintains a exercise program data base with corrective action tracking. This branch is responsible for keeping up Arkansas entries into the national exercise data base.
The CSEPP program is aimed at safely eliminating the chemical weapon stockpile located at Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA). The program oversees programmatic guidelines, establishes funding criteria and coordinates with the other branches, divisions and agencies as well as local governments in ten counties surrounding the Pine Bluff Arsenal (PBA) to ensure successful implementation of the program. The Program Manager and staff work extensively with the local governments involved in this program to ensure maximum protection is provided to the citizens around PBA as the destruction process continues to move forward.