DeKalb Emergency Management Agency offers preparedness tips during National Emergency Management Awareness Month

DEKALB COUNTY, GA– The DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is proud to recognize National Emergency Management Awareness Month throughout August. The campaign is designed to increase public awareness of the emergency management profession and recognize the dedicated professionals who work every day to help communities, businesses, schools, healthcare organizations, and government agencies prepare for emergencies and disasters. 

“Emergency managers are the professionals who help communities and organizations prepare for the unexpected long before disaster strikes,” said Josh Morton, MPA, CEM, SCCEM, President of the IAEM-USA Council. “National Emergency Management Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize their contributions and increase understanding of the vital work they perform every day.” 

Emergency managers coordinate planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across every sector of society. Their work helps reduce disaster impacts, strengthen resilience, and ensure essential services continue during emergencies. 

“Preparedness is not a one-time event, it is a continuous commitment,” said Clare “Cj” Avory, Director of the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency.  “Every exercise we conduct, every partnership we build, and every emergency plan we strengthen helps make DeKalb County more resilient. This month, we celebrate the emergency professionals who work behind the scenes every day to protect our community while reminding residents that preparedness begins at home.” 

DEMA works year-round to enhance the County’s ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters, severe weather, public health emergencies and other hazards. The agency  coordinates emergency planning across DeKalb County in partnership with public safety agencies, local governments, healthcare organizations, schools, nonprofits, private sector partners, and state and federal agencies. The agency also manages the County’s Emergency Operations Center, administers DeKalb Alert emergency notifications, and leads community preparedness initiatives.

Throughout August, residents are encouraged to:

• Build or update an emergency kit. 
• Develop a family emergency plan. 
• Sign up for DeKalb Alert. 
• Follow DEMA on social media for preparedness information and emergency updates.