Emergency management is a fantastically diverse career field. Look at emergency management departments as “bridge builders.” As emergency managers we often must construct “bridges” between “islands of interest”: linking disciplines (police, fire, EMS, public works, public health/healthcare, nongovernmental organizations, the private sector), jurisdictions and the general public before, during, and after a disaster.
Eaton County Emergency Management (ECEM) is authorized by the Michigan Emergency Management Act (Act 390 of 1976) to coordinate and administer countywide all-hazards emergency management and disaster preparedness functions for Eaton County and its political subdivisions.
Through ECEM, disaster preparedness and public safety related emergency management activities are coordinated to serve and protect the public. ECEM is concerned with all natural and manmade hazards including local homeland security functions.
Emergency management recognizes that a government-centric approach to emergency management is not enough to meet the challenges posed by the threats and hazards we face. The Whole Community approach to emergency management reinforces the fact that ECEM is only one part of an emergency management team; we must leverage all resources in order to meet the needs of the entire community.
Ryan Wilkinson
Eaton County Emergency Manager
