Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Title 35, Pa C.S. (Emergency Services Code) is the Pennsylvania legislation creating emergency management throughout the Commonwealth.  Title 35 defines emergency management as judicious planning, assignment and coordination of all available resources in an integrated program of prevention, mitigation preparedness, response and recovery for emergencies of any kind, whether from attack, man-made or natural resources.

Successful emergency management is community-based.  That is, the general public and government equally share responsibilities and partnerships in all five phases of emergency management.  Katrina, Rita, and Wilma are object lessons when those shared responsibilities and partnerships fail.  The previous pages provided information for individuals, families, loved ones, and the business community.  What about government and the relationship between the local, county, and state governments? 

A Centre Region Emergency Management (EM) Coordinator is appointed by the Governor and acts on behalf of the local elected officials at the direction of the Centre Region EM Council.  The EM Council is composed of the municipal managers from the COG member municipalities and a Penn State representative and the COG Executive Director.

The Centre Region EM Council conducts a monthly public meeting to ensure the two primary goals of emergency management are met:  (1) life safety and (2) protection of property.  The purpose of the EM Council is to provide direction and guidance to the regional emergency management program, ensure emergency management develops commensurate with member municipalities' growth, and meet all legal and statutory requirements of the Commonwealth and the federal government.

Centre County has an Office of Emergency Management working under the direction of the elected County officials.  The responsible agency for the Commonwealth is the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA).  PEMA has divided Pennsylvania into three regions -- east, west, and central.  This division into regions addresses manageability and span of control during emergencies and disasters and simplifies administrative dealings.  PEMA serves as the conduit between the Commonwealth and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FAQs address the role of PEMA.  PEMA provides direction and guidance to local government and all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.

What does PEMA do?

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency works to plan responses to, prevent loss from, communicate news about, coordinate resources for and help communities recover from natural and manmade disasters and emergencies.

That sounds like Civil Defense.  Is it?

Emergency management agencies evolved from the old national system of civilian defense.  Civil Defense was largely concerned with protecting populations from cold war threats.  Today, emergency management agencies deal with wider ranges of issues, from floods and earthquakes to enterprise recovery planning and protection from terrorism.

Where does PEMA fit into state government?

PEMA is an executive agency reporting directly to the Governor of the Commonwealth. PEMA has a unique role to play in coordinating the resources of virtually every state agency in times of disaster or emergency.  PEMA's prime responsibility is to support county emergency managers and their organizations; county agencies, in turn, support local boroughs, cities and townships.

Does PEMA Play a Role in Homeland Security?

Most definitely.  PEMA and the Office of the State Fire Commissioner, together with other state, county and local agencies, are deeply involved in training response forces to deal with terrorist incidents.  Planners on the PEMA staff work extensively with counties to develop plans to minimize threats to our security.  Our administrative personnel manage programs providing equipment to local responders.  Most important, however, is the day to day coordination of information, plans and procedures relating to the commonwealth's homeland security needs.

What is FEMA?

FEMA is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, PEMA's federal partner.  FEMA's main role is to support PEMA and other state emergency management agencies.

Does my local community have an emergency management agency?

It should.  Under commonwealth law, every town, borough, city and township in Pennsylvania is required to establish and maintain an emergency management agency and have an emergency management coordinator. The responsibility of local emergency management agencies is to maximize the utilization of local resources to prevent, plan for, respond to and recover from disasters and emergencies.

How can I get involved?

Contact your local government and let officials know you are interested in helping with emergency management work.

Is training required?

Certain levels of training are mandatory for EMA coordinators at the county level, and county EMAs are required to provide training to local coordinators.  PEMA strongly recommends basic and advanced training for all emergency management personnel.

Is there a cost?

Most training is provided free of charge, however, there may be costs associated with travel, accommodations and meals associated with out-of-area programs.  Some of PEMA's basic training will soon be available online, free-of-charge.  Local governments, in most cases, provide reimbursement to emergency management personnel for legitimate, pre-approved attendance at training programs.  Ask you local community's leadership what policies and procedures are in place.

How large is PEMA?

PEMA is a small agency with approximately 140 employees working in six locales.  These personnel work in our Bureaus of Recovery and Mitigation, Operations and Training, Plans and Preparedness, Technical Services, and Administration.  PEMA offices are located in Harrisburg, Hamburg, Selinsgrove and Indiana.  A specialized equipment depot and repair facility is located at Ft. Indiantown Gap.  In addition, the Office of the State Fire Commissioner is located within PEMA and headquartered in Harrisburg; the State Fire Academy is located in Lewistown.

In an emergency, how can I contact PEMA?

If there's an emergency, dial 911 (or other, local 7-digit emergency number in some areas) and report the emergency locally.  As the scope of an emergency is determined, county emergency management agencies communicate with PEMA through our 24-hour Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

What's an EOC?

An Emergency Operations Center is essentially the 'nerve center' of the emergency management system.  At PEMA's level, the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center is a technologically advanced facility staffed around the clock by highly trained personnel.  During emergencies, personnel from other state agencies also staff the EOC.  At the county and local levels, EOCs also are the central coordination point for response and recovery efforts.  These facilities range from large and highly sophisticated to small and simple; the 'bottom line' is that the essential tasks are accomplished.