Homeland Security Flood Response Efforts

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

On August 11, 2014 the southeastern portion of Oakland County, located in southeast Michigan, received 5 inches of rain over a short time causing severe flooding, directly impacting eleven communities, hundreds of businesses and thousands of homeowners. Oakland County Homeland Security Division is the emergency management program for the local cities, villages and townships within the county. Given the severity of the event; Oakland County declared a State of Emergency. A coordinated effort among Homeland Security, the Michigan State Police and FEMA resulted in accurate damage assessment reporting and information gathering, culminating in a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the tri-county area of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb. Coincidentally, citizens began calling our department seeking to report the damage to their basement and belongings, along with asking for compensation for their losses and looking for information. Within two weeks after the event, the Homeland Security Division received over six hundred phone calls requesting assistance. Oakland County develop an on-line flood report document along with a hot-line allowing citizens to receive information and leave recorded messages. Oakland County Homeland Security established two Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) providing a “one-stop-shop” for citizens to ask questions and receive assistance with their recovery efforts.