Established in the Office of the Governor by the Texas Disaster Act of 1975 (Local Government Code, Chapter 418 , the Division of Emergency Management has been placed under the control and direction of the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. For Wharton County, the Director for Emergency Management has been placed under the control and direction of the County Judge.
MISSION STATEMENT No area of Wharton County is beyond the reach of natural or man caused disasters and emergencies. Whether you live in a populated city or in a quiet rural area of the county, nature’s wrath and our technology can cause death, injury and property damage, often without warning. Some of the most frequent threats are severe weather including tornadoes, lightning and floods. Texas averages 121 tornadoes a year. In 1998, only 74 were verified. Texas has more tornadoes than any other state. Nature is not the only cause of destruction. Sometimes accidents caused by our own technology are equally devastating. Hazardous material incidents occur on our highways, railways, water ways and at fixed facilities. Wharton County is close to the South Texas Nuclear Plant located in Matagorda County. The nuclear generating plant is closely monitored and a safety program has been developed for the surrounding community; however, there is always a potential for danger. Terrorism has become a priority with emergency managers and responders in the United States and as long as conventional and nuclear weapons exist, we must consider the potential for their use by terrorists, accidental firing or all out war. The Wharton County Office of Emergency Management takes an integrated, all-hazards, approach to emergency management. Local problems are often solved at the community level; however, when disaster is beyond local capabilities, the local CEO or county judge declares a state of emergency and State resources then become available. All state resources requests go through the Texas Department of Emergency Management. When a disaster is beyond local capabilities to respond, the county judge will request assistance from the state. The state DEM will contact the Governor. The Governor requests a Presidential Declaration. If granted, federal resources are then made available and coordinated through a partnership of FEMA, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Division of Emergency Management. Federal Disaster Funds consist of Individual Assistance (grants), SBA (loans) and Public Assistance (matching grants).