Emergency Management

Duties

Columbus Lowndes County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) coordinates the local government’s role in planning for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to and recovering from all disasters whether natural disasters such as weather-related incidents or man-made disasters such as chemical spills or radiological releases from power plants.

Mission

Our mission is to protect the lives and property of our citizens in Columbus and Lowndes County, which includes the incorporated towns of Artesia, Caledonia, and Crawford.

Responsibilities

The EMA office is governed through an inter-local agreement between the City of Columbus and Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. The day-to-day operation of the office falls under the jurisdiction of the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors. 

The EMA staff consists of a director and two employees. It is their responsibility to activate the Emergency Operations Center and coordinate with local officials and emergency response agencies such as fire, law enforcement, EMS and others ensure the effective operation of the emergency management system. After the first responders arrive, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way and other voluntary organizations provide food, shelter and essential needs to displaced and injured families. 

Our office is responsible for preparing and ensuring that all required reports are forwarded to the proper officials during and after the incident.

Goals

One of our primary goals is educating the citizens in Columbus and Lowndes County. Most citizens in Lowndes County have learned from experience that emergencies can and do occur at the most unexpected times. In an effort to encourage families and individuals to enhance preparedness, we have educational materials that offer information and resources for most emergency situations. 

Free training and presentations on emergency preparedness are available to the general public on request. Nothing is more important than the average citizen understanding what to do in emergencies, be it a tornado, chemical spill or any other situation that threatens life and property.