Emergency Preparedness

The goal of emergency management is “to protect lives and property from the effects of natural and technological disasters and enemy attack.” This begins with the President of the United States. At the federal level, emergency management is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In Texas, the governor, working through the Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, is responsible for maintaining an effective state program. This includes monitoring county and municipal emergency management programs to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations and statutes.

At the city level, the Mayor serves as an Emergency Management Director responsible for developing disaster response capabilities and coordinating an emergency response plan for the jurisdiction.The City of Allen is subject to major emergencies and/or disasters that may pose a significant threat to public health and/or safety, including:

To prepare for these varied threats, the Fire Marshal serving as the part-time Emergency Management Coordinator, is assisted by department directors and civilian volunteers. The Emergency Management Coordinator maintains the outdoor warning system which is capable of voice messaging and siren tones that help warn the public of severe weather events and other emergencies. Should a disaster actually strike, local authorities would take control of the situation from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

At that location, members of the EOC staff would coordinate the assistance of County, State and Federal relief agencies. Shelters would be set up at designated Allen ISD school buildings with the assistance of the American Red Cross. Through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and other available media, local residents would be instructed as to the proper shelter location for their neighborhood.

Another responsibility of the Emergency Management Coordinator is the maintenance of Allen’s Emergency Management Plan. The city's plan is reviewed annually, on a five-year cycle. Reviews are conducted by the city, the county, the state, and the federal government to ensure the plan is a workable, living document that meets criteria laid out by these governments.

Emergency management includes the four phases below: