Emergency Management / Monroe County, IN

Emergency Management

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About the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency

Emergency Management means the preparation for and the coordination of all emergency functions other than functions for which military forces or other federal agencies are primarily responsible for to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage resulting from disasters.

The formation and regulation of county level emergency management follow Indiana Code Title 10, Article 14.

Our Mission Statement

To establish and maintain a progressive emergency management program that promotes the mitigation of, preparation for, the response to, and the recovery from emergencies and disasters impacting the public, government, and businesses of the communities in Monroe County.

Fire Prevention and Safety

What is one of the most common and devastating disasters that Hoosiers often experience?

Answer: Residential and other structure fires

Fires can start quickly with little to no warning within a house or other structure. The little to no warning and the acceleration of the flames often make structure fires a very dangerous and catastrophic disaster for the survivors. According to the United States Fire Administration, in 2022 there were 374,300 residential fires in the United States, which caused 2,720 deaths and 10,250 injuries.

Several factors can cause a fire to start. A lot of house fires are caused by cooking accidents or electrical malfunctions.

Fires can often be prevented, or the impact that they can cause can be reduced significantly.

Follow these fire prevention and safety tips that could help protect you and your property:

Ensure that all of your appliances, both large and small are inspected and in good working condition. Always clean appliances prior to use.
Always plug major appliances — refrigerators, stoves, washers and dryers — directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord with a major appliance. The extension cord can overheat and start a fire.
Use lightbulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture. Keep anything that can burn away from lamps, light fixtures and light bulbs.
Do not overload outlets. Do not overload power strips. Replace worn, old or damaged extension cords right away.
Washers and dryers should be plugged directly into wall outlets. Clean lint filters every time you use the dryer. Clean the dryer vent ductwork once every year.
Store oil, gasoline, paints, propane and varnishes in a shed away from your home. Keep items that can burn on shelves away from appliances.
Don't put lithium-ion batteries in the trash. Recycle them at your local battery recycling location. Don't put lithium-ion batteries in direct sunlight or keep them in hot cars. This is a fire risk. Stop using lithium-ion batteries if you notice an odor, change in color, too much heat, change in shape, leaking or odd noises. Store spare lithium-ion batteries away from anything that can burn.
If you do use lit candles, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be knocked down easily. Blow out candles when you leave a room or home, or when you go to bed. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that burns.
Watch what you are cooking. Fires start when the heat is too high. If you see any smoke or the grease starts to boil, turn the burner off. Keep a pan lid or baking sheet nearby. Use it to cover the pan if it catches on fire. This will put out the fire.
Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected each year by a professional. Turn space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from all heat sources including fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, space heaters or candles. Never use an oven to heat your home.
During the Holiday season, make sure to water your Christmas tree everyday if it is real. Make sure your tree is at least 3 feet away from heat sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, candles or heat vents. Also, make sure your tree does not block exits. Inspect holiday lights each year before you put them up. Throw away light strands with frayed or pinched wires.
Never store materials that can cause a fire in the sun or near an open flame or heat source. Store products in their original containers out of the reach of children and pets. Store anything that can catch on fire away from your home. Follow the instructions on the label when you use and store household chemicals. If you have a spill, clean the area and put the containers in an airy place. If you cannot control the spill, or are unsure about cleanup and disposal, call the fire department. Follow the instructions on the label when you need to throw a product out.
In the event of severe weather, make sure your smoke alarm has a backup battery. Don't fuel your generator when it is running. Spilling gas on a hot engine can cause a fire. Connect appliances to portable generators with heavy-duty extension cords. Never use candles for emergency lighting. Use flashlights and stock up on extra batteries.

The best life-saving tool for house fires is smoke alarms. Please make sure you have a working smoke alarm in each room of your house, especially bedrooms and hallways. Smoke alarms do save lives.

Make sure that you also have a working fire extinguisher in your house.

One rule to always remember is if you see, hear, or smell something abnormal in your house or workplace, get it checked out as soon as possible.

Sign Up For Emergency Alerts!

Receive emergency alerts and other important community news by signing up for Monroe County Alert. This system enables us to provide you with critical information quickly, such as tornado warnings, road closures, missing persons, and evacuations that are specific to Monroe County.

You will receive time-sensitive messages by signing up for these alerts! This is a free service for anyone in Monroe County, Indiana.

While registering for the alerts, you can specify how you would like to receive them, whether by text, email, and/or landline.

You can also register for automated weather alerts through this system.

These automated weather alerts are voluntary. You are able to select the weather alerts that you would like to receive.

Travel Status Map

To keep up to date on the current travel status of Monroe County, check out the Travel Status Map:

For up-to-date news, follow us on Facebook and sign up for alerts from the Monroe County Alert System.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS KITS

An emergency or disaster may strike at anytime, unannounced. The best way to survive and recover from an incident is to be prepared for them at all times. One way to help yourself be prepared, is to make an emergency preparedness kit that you can take with you everywhere you go. It is a great idea to have multiple kits. You can keep one in your vehicle at all times, one in your house, and any other location that you may think about.

SUPPLIES TO PUT IN YOUR KIT: