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Captain James T. Judkins
1001 Whitemarsh Rd
Suffolk, Virginia 23434
(757) 923-2110
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The primary mission of the Division
of Emergency Management is the organized analysis, planning, decision making
and assignment of available local, state, and federal emergency response
and recovery resources to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover
from the effects of any and all natural or man-made hazards. The Division
of Emergency Management is responsible for the coordination of all local,
state and federal emergency response agencies in the event of an emergency
or disaster. Daily activities include:
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Disaster planning, mitigation and preparation
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Maintaining a record of chemical inventories
from Suffolk businesses as required under Section 312 of the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III).
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Coordination of emergency management
planning with local, regional, state and federal disaster response agencies.
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Public disaster prevention education
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In addition the Emergency Management
Coordinator serves as the Public Information Officer…the official spokesperson
for the Department of Fire and Rescue.
The range of potential natural and man-made
hazards that might occur in our locality or region is infinite and staggering.
Examination of the hazards that can and will affect our community is an
essential component of the local emergency management program. The Suffolk
Local Emergency Planning Committee has analyzed the hazards that pose the
greatest threat to risks to our community so that we may suggest guidance
on how to best organize available resources to manage these emergencies.
The needs assessment and program review is an annual process. The Emergency
Management Coordinator reviews Suffolk's Emergency Operations Plan and
the current state of emergency preparedness of the City and suggests changes
in order to promote the highest level of achievable disaster preparedness
through pro active planning and mitigation.
Since 1997, the Division of Emergency
Management has coordinated emergency response, recovery, and damage assessment
operations to eight major local disasters. The 1999 hurricane season brought
three major hurricanes to the Suffolk area. Hurricane Floyd, the second
Federal Presidential Disaster Declaration within a two year period caused
an estimated $30 million in local property, crop, and public property losses
within the City of Suffolk. Through coordination of disaster damage assessment
and recovery operations, most of the city's operational costs were recovered
from state and federal agencies.
For Severe
Weather Updates and Information,
please visit
the following links:
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