Are you familiar with the Emergency Operations Center? Then attend this meeting and learn what it is and how it helps us during an emergency - like the pandemic. As a profession, emergency management began in the 1950s as a result of the nuclear arms race. Civil defense - as it was called - helped cities and counties prepare for a nuclear disaster. Fortunately, no bombs were launched, and planners worked to make a difference in other areas. Weather is the most pressing threat, be it from floods, tornadoes, ice storms, or heat waves. Train derailments and other incidents pose a hazard where dangerous chemicals could be released. Today, emergency management seeks to prepare the community for a disaster through: Planning, training, and exercises Coordinate emergency response Minimize hazards and threats impacting life and property Recovery from significant emergencies and disasters Produced by Doug Herahl, Club President 2019-2020