Region 22 Emergency Management

The Region 22 Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is an agency created by an Interlocal Agreement between Scotts Bluff County, Banner County, the Cities of Scottsbluff, Gering, Terrytown, Mitchell and Minatare, and the Villages of Lyman, Henry, Morrill, and McGrew. Region 22 EMA is under the direction of the Region 22 Board of Directors with representatives selected by the governing bodies of the Interlocal entities. Region 22 EMA is supported by one full-time director and a part-time Administrative Assistant. Region 22 EMA plans for response to emergencies and disasters and coordinates the activities of the responding communities during actual events. Each level of government is responsible to handle their own emergency until the emergency exceeds its capabilities or resources. The local emergency operations plan (LEOP) is ready to activate at a moment’s notice from any incorporated municipality in the region.

THE MISSION of the Region 22 Emergency Management Agency is to support the two Counties and the ten Cities and Villages and their citizens in Preparedness, Prevention, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery using an All-Hazards approach, and to develop and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organization to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.

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Outdoor Warning Siren Policy Severe Weather Awareness
NOAA Weather-Ready Nation National Weather Service - CheyenneOutdoor Warning Siren Locations

Region 22 Emergency Management is honored to be recognized as a "NOAA Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador". The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador initiative is an effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving the nation's readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events. As a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, Region 22 is committing to work with NOAA and other Ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather.

How Can YOU Get Involved with Emergency Management?

Scotts Bluff County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. For more information, contact Bob Hessler atsafetyline@gmail.com.

ARES Region 22 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES) consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment with their local ARES leadership and the Emergency Management Office for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes. Every licensed amateur, regardless of membership in ARRL or any other local or national organization is eligible to apply for membership in ARES. Every licensed amateur can participate in ARES nets within their license privileges; however, additional training and certification is required to participate fully in ARES. Contact Steve Panattoni, N6RSH n6rsh@arrl.net for more information.

COAD Panhandle Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD)
Panhandle COAD is a collaborative network of independent organizations, agencies, individuals, and businesses based within a community or geographic area representing public, private, and not-for-profit agencies, which work to help minimize the effects of a disaster. In short, we want to strengthen our community’s resiliency. The mission of a COAD is to strengthen area-wide disaster coordination by promoting advocacy and planning to reduce the impact of disasters, including facilitating communication, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation. Contact Ashley Hopkins at ashley.hopkins@scottsbluffcountyne.gov.

Contact Information

Location

Region 22 Emergency Management
1825 10th Street
Gering, NE 69341

Office Hours

Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Call ahead as we are often out of the office)
Closed Weekends and Holidays

Contact

308 633-1811 - Main

308 562-0950 - Cell

Ashley Hopkins - Interim Director
ashley.hopkins@scottsbluffcountyne.gov

Region 22 EMA on Social Media

Facebook

Region 22 Emergency Management (@Region22EM) / X (twitter.com)

Region 22 Emergency Management - YouTube

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

The Federal Government has placed emphasis on hazardous materials storage and planning in each community. Through the SARA TITLE III PROGRAM, it is mandated that each county have a LEPC in place for the purpose of planning, keeping track of the storage facilities, and a plan for response in the event of an incident at a storage facility. The SARA TITLE III PROGRAM is the community's right-to-know where and what is stored in their community. Each facility must report to three agencies - the local fire department, the local emergency planning committee office (this office), and the Department of Environmental Quality. It is further mandated that each county have a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) which is directed under the authority of the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). This group meets on a quarterly basis.

Region 22 Volunteer Reception Center Purpose and Operations

The Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) will be opened at the request of the local Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and maintained until the EOC notifies the VRC and the United Way of Western Nebraska that there is no longer a need for the VRC.

The VRC will:

Register, assign and reassign volunteers
Background checks, if necessary and if time permits
Train volunteers as necessary
Collect and maintain data on volunteers
Track volunteers while they are participating in disaster response
Thank all volunteers at the conclusion of the event

The Volunteer Reception Center will operate using the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System.

Additional Links

Medical Reserve Corps and (Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals) ESAR-VHP - volunteers.ne.gov/ESAR-VHP
Nebraska Emergency Management Agency - nema.nebraska.gov
National Weather Service at Cheyenne, Wyoming - www.weather.gov/cys/

Updated: 2024.03.18