Emergency Management
Emergency Management
The City of Overland Park’s emergency management division implements programs in order to prepare citizens for potential disaster and minimize the risks should an emergency occur.
Emergency management also prepares the public for severe weather by testing the outdoor warning system and utilizing the Notify JoCo program.
Four Phases of Emergency Response
The emergency management division executes the four phases of emergency management:
- Mitigation involves educating the public about potential hazards and their consequences, and helping resident apply the knowledge to prevent damages.
- Preparation involves updating the emergency operation plan and conducting drills and exercises with city staff and the public.
- Response: In many disasters, the emergency management division coordinates the efforts of first responders, city staff, volunteers and others involved.
- Recovery: Emergency management restores the community to pre-emergency conditions or better by providing assistance and vital services, and coordinating relief efforts and donations for disaster victims.
Contact
Jared McPhee
Emergency Management Coordinator
913-895-8361
[email protected]
Be Prepared for Severe Weather
Severe weather can create hazardous conditions such as damaging winds, hail, lightning, flooding and tornados.
Be safe this severe weather season by staying informed and preparing for the most common types of severe weather in our area.
Tornado Sirens
The City of Overland Park and Johnson County have and Outdoor Warning Siren system. It is made up of hundreds of sirens throughout the county that can warn you to take shelter during severe weather.
The Outdoor Warning Siren system sirens may be heard while you are inside, but they are intended to inform people who are outside to take shelter. Air conditioning, thunder, wind, rain, and other conditions may prevent you from hearing the sirens indoors. Make sure you have another way of getting severe weather alerts this summer, like a weather radio or a smartphone with wireless emergency alerts activated.
The City sets off individual sirens or specific zones of sirens based on warnings from the National Weather Service or storm spotters. You may not hear the sirens if there are not active severe weather warnings in your part of Overland Park.
Emergency Operations Center
During disasters, City leaders may activate the emergency operations center.
The emergency operations center gives first responders and leadership a place to coordinate actions that preserve life and property in an emergency.
In this facility, representatives from many City departments and outside agencies will work collaboratively to ensure that information gathering and dissemination, decision making, and resource allocations are carried out in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Emergency Management Resources
CERT Training
This seven-week-long class prepares you to help your neighbors in case of an emergency.
Prepare Metro KC
Understand how you can better prepare yourself for an emergency in the Kansas City area.
Notify JoCo
Keep informed of significant events that may affect you.