Emergency management is defined as the 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 sources. The Emergency Management Services Code, Act 1978-323, 35 Pa.C.S.A. §7101 et seq., established the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA). Its mission assignment is to assure prompt, proper and effective discharge of basic Commonwealth responsibilities relating to civil defense and disaster preparedness, operations and recovery.

In the same way, Cambria County has established the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) as a division of the Department of Emergency Services. The Department's charge is two-fold. One division oversees administration of the county's role in emergency management. The second division consists of the operation of the 9-1-1 Center.

The primary responsibilities of the emergency management division are dictated by the Emergency Management Services Code, and include the following, among others:

1. To prepare, maintain and keep current an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).

2. To establish, equip and staff an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), consolidated with warning and communications systems.

3. To organize, prepare and coordinate all locally available manpower, materials, supplies, equipment, facilities and services necessary for disaster emergency readiness, response and recovery.

4. Provide prompt and accurate information regarding local emergencies to appropriate Commonwealth and local officials and agencies and the general public.

The Department's powers and duties are prescribed by a host of State and Federal legislative acts, including the following:

• Radiation Protection Act
• Public Safety Emergency Telephone Act
• Hazardous Material Emergency Planning & Response Act
• Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law
• Solid Waste Management Act
• Pennsylvania Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act
• Federal Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
• Dam Safety & Encroachment Act
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief & Emergency Assistance Act
• Aboveground Storage Tank Law
• Clean Air Act

Each of these legislative acts dictate to a varying degree responsibilities of county government. These responsibilities may require only a mandate to report, or may charge the Department with direction and control.

The Operation of the Emergency Management Agency

The Cambria County Emergency Management Agency is tasked with providing planning for:

Cambria EMA also assists in planning for:

The EMA also provides awareness, education,

The Department of Emergency Services owns and operates the following equipment:

A 1994 International with Hackney Body Hazardous Materials Truck.  5 Person cab, 25 foot light tower, rear command post.

A 1998 Chevrolet 4-wheel drive Tahoe.  Equipped with UHF, high band and low band mobile radios, cellular telephone, emergency response gear, standard warning light and siren. A pindle hitch for towing purposes.  It is also equipped to establish a field emergency operations center.

A 2001 Ford F250 XL V10 super duty truck.  It equipped with 4-wheel drive and has 4-doors. It is also  Equipped with UHF, high band and low band mobile radios, cellular telephone, emergency response gear, standard warning lights and siren.  A pindle hitch for towing purposes.

Provides 425 gallons of non-potable water within two hours of notification.   The unit also has a 125 gallon per minute pump.

This unit is used to transport the department's two truck-bed mounted non-potable water supply tanks.  It is anticipated the cargo trailer will also transport emergency power generators that are expected to be purchased in 1999.