SDEMA Mission Statement
The South Dakota Emergency Management Association is a statewide association of individuals who share an interest in the emergency management profession and work to minimize the impact of disasters on communities throughout the state.
The primary mission of the Association is to provide a support network between county emergency management agencies and their partners at the state, county, municipal, volunteer, and private industry level. The association embraces the following objectives that provide a framework for creative and innovative problem solving on emergency management issues:
Communication
To provide a network for members to communicate with local, regional, state, and national emergency management organizations.
Coordination & COLLABORATION
To provide an environment for the coordination and collaboration among emergency management agencies in the development of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery strategies.
Representation
To represent the membership in matters pertaining to public policies on issues regarding emergency management.
Education
To develop a system of informing and/or providing the membership with professional development opportunities.
Organizational Profile - Who we are and what we do (history)
Objectives
The objectives of the Association are to assist local, State, and Federal Governments in:
- The establishment and maintenance of Civil Defense as an effective element of National Defense.
- The establishment of Emergency Management as an organizational structure by which Local Government can best prepare for, respond to, and recover from all major disasters.
- The fostering of information exchange and educational programs which will advance the professional standards of persons engaged in these activities.
Purpose
Within the above defined objectives, the Association has as its purposes:
- To establish a coordinated emergency and resource information network between public and private agencies.
- To recommend effective training and education programs in order to increase the management and technical competence of individuals and professionals engaged in Civil Defense and Emergency Management activities.
- To strengthen intergovernmental, interagency, and multi-disciplinary liaisons as they relate to Integrated Emergency Management and Civil Defense.
South Dakota Codified Laws which pertain to county emergency managers include, but are not limited to:
33-15-26. County emergency management organizations. Each organized county of this state shall establish a local organization and develop an emergency plan for emergency management in accordance with the state emergency management plan and program.
33-15-27. Director of local organization -- Duties and powers. Each local organization for emergency management shall have a director who shall be appointed by the executive officer or governing body of the county, and who shall have direct responsibility for the development and implementation of emergency and disaster plans, organization, administration and operation of the local organization for emergency management, subject to the direction and control of the executive officer or governing body.
33-15-34. Mutual aid arrangements of local organizations. The director of a local emergency management organization may develop mutual aid arrangements consistent with state plans and programs. The provisions of such arrangements shall be implemented in the event of emergency or disaster.
View SDCL Chapter 15 - Emergency Management
