Emergency Management Agency Joint Information System Plan and Center

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Camden County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) fully activated a Joint Information System Plan (JIS), credited with unifying the Camden County Board of Commissioners, the cities of Kingsland, St. Marys, and Woodbine, the Camden County School System, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, in response to Hurricane Irma. An Executive Policy Group was organized and members were trained for their roles and responsibilities as part of a Unified Command during Irma. This group consists of local Mayors, City Managers, County Commissioners, School Superintendent, and the Sheriff’s Office. Actions taken prior to, during, and post hurricane include ensuring the safety of the public and first responders, mitigation and recovery of critical services and infrastructure with minimum economic disruption. Camden County was credited with a highly successful Public Communications effort under the JIS Plan. Assessments by local elected officials, as well as the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, indicated a marked improvement in preparedness, response, recovery and overall communication between Hurricanes Matthew and Irma. This unique approach was instrumental in achieving a high level of collaboration and communication necessary to meet and exceed the public’s expectation that all levels of government would unite in times of crisis.