The EMA mission is deliberately broad. Often called upon to respond to emergency situations as either a coordinating agency or a support agency, EMA must maintain a staff of trained volunteers well versed in a number of areas.

One of the main function of EMA is severe weather event coordination. This includes a network of Champaign County Storm Spotters who are strategically deployed through-out the county to provide advance warning of severe weather. In addition, local EMA units operated by the cities and villages in the county deploy their own spotters to monitor conditions in and around their communities. All of these storm spotters maintain constant contact with the EOC to provide immediate notification of severe weather conditions.

Other active EMA units include the Communications Division and the Underwater Search And Recovery Team (USART). This team of divers performs searches for victims in lakes, ponds and streams. The USART regularly assists local public safety agencies with evidence recovery.

As the name implies, the Communications Division coordinates all communications needs for EMA activation's. Communications are primarily established from the EOC, however, EMA is often called upon to provide temporary emergency field communications. When this happens, the Mobile Command Post (E-1) is pressed into service. E-1 is a self contained mobile communications and command van with a fully functional communications room equipped with radio equipment capable of operating on any public safety frequency used in Champaign County.

This site hosted by:

Send your comments and questions to: esda@prairienet.org