Response

Response Phase

The division's emergency response functions are coordinated in a proactive manner from the State Emergency Operations Center located in Raleigh.

Strategies

Proactive response strategies used by the division include:
  • Area Commands that are strategically located in an impacted region to assist with local response efforts using state resources
  • Central warehousing operations managed by the state that allow for immediate delivery of bottle water, ready to eat meals, blankets, tarps, and the like
  • Field deployment teams manned by division and other state agency personnel that assist severely impacted counties coordinate and prioritize response activity
  • Incident action planning that identifies response priorities and resource requirements 12 to 24 hours in advance

State Emergency Response Team

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT), which is comprised of top level management representatives of each state agency involved in response activities, provides the technical expertise and coordinates the delivery of the emergency resources used to support local emergency operations.

When resource needs are beyond the capabilities of state agencies, mutual aid from other unimpacted local governments and states may be secured using the Statewide Mutual Aid agreement or Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Federal assistance may also be requested through the federal Emergency Response Team, which collocates with the SERT during major disasters.
Emergency Management, white SUV on pavement