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| Rockingham County Emergency Management | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rockingham County Emergency Management |
| Abbreviation | RCEM |
| Formed | 19XX |
| Jurisdiction | Rockingham County, New Hampshire |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
| Chief1 position | Director |
| Parent agency | Rockingham County, New Hampshire |
Rockingham County Emergency Management is the agency responsible for coordinating hazard mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It interfaces with state and federal partners including the New Hampshire Department of Safety, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and regional mutual aid partners to manage incidents ranging from coastal storms to public health events. The agency maintains strategic plans, warning systems, and community outreach programs to support residents of Derry, New Hampshire, Hampton, New Hampshire, Salem, New Hampshire, and neighboring municipalities.
Rockingham County Emergency Management operates within a framework established by state statutes and federal directives such as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, the National Incident Management System, and the Homeland Security Act of 2002. It maintains coordination relationships with the New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The office collaborates with municipal emergency managers from communities including No. Hampton, New Hampshire, Exeter, New Hampshire, Rye, New Hampshire, and Seabrook, New Hampshire, while engaging non-governmental partners such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, and local healthcare systems like Elliott Hospital and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
The county office traces its roots to civil defense activities during the Cold War and the evolution of emergency preparedness following disasters such as Hurricane Carol and the New England Ice Storm of 1998. Post-9/11 policy shifts influenced regional planning via programs tied to the Urban Area Security Initiative and the Department of Homeland Security. The agency’s operations expanded after major weather events including Hurricane Bob and Hurricane Sandy, and public health activations during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. Historic coordination efforts have involved federal partners such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region I and interagency exercises with the National Guard (United States) and the United States Coast Guard.
Leadership typically includes a director reporting to the county commissioners in Rockingham County, New Hampshire and liaising with the New Hampshire Emergency Management Advisory Council. The organizational structure aligns with the Incident Command System and integrates sections for operations, planning, logistics, and finance modeled after the National Incident Management System. Key roles collaborate with county law enforcement such as the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, municipal police departments including Portsmouth Police Department, fire services such as Dover Fire Department and Salem Fire Department, and emergency medical services like Regional Ambulance Service and hospital emergency departments. Mutual aid compacts and agreements may reference entities like the New Hampshire Hospital Association, the Center for Domestic Preparedness, and neighboring state emergency management offices in Massachusetts and Maine.
Primary responsibilities include hazard mitigation planning, emergency operations center activation, public information, disaster recovery coordination, and continuity of operations planning. Programs often involve grant administration for FEMA hazard mitigation grants, implementation of National Flood Insurance Program education, and participation in statewide initiatives such as the New Hampshire Hazard Mitigation Plan. Public alerting systems integrate tools like Wireless Emergency Alerts, NOAA Weather Radio, and county reverse-911 systems. Community resilience projects coordinate with organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region I mitigation staff, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency on environmental hazards, and regional planning commissions like the Rockingham Planning Commission.
During incidents the office staffs the Emergency Operations Center, supports incident commanders under the National Incident Management System, and coordinates resource requests through state channels and the EMAC mutual aid system. Response operations have included coastal storm evacuations, sheltering in coordination with the American Red Cross, flood response with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, hazardous materials incidents with State Fire Marshal and Environmental Protection Agency Region 1, and search and rescue support alongside the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and Civil Air Patrol. Coordination with transportation agencies such as the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and rail operators plays a role in mass care and logistics.
Training programs follow standards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Emergency Management Institute, offering courses in ICS, FEMA professional development, and disaster recovery. The office conducts exercises with partners including the Department of Homeland Security, National Guard (United States), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, county law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, schools like Phillips Exeter Academy, colleges such as University of New Hampshire, and critical infrastructure operators. Community outreach includes public preparedness campaigns, collaboration with Community Emergency Response Team programs, and partnerships with local media such as The Portsmouth Herald and regional broadcasters to disseminate preparedness information.
Notable activations include responses to Hurricane Sandy impacts on the New England coast, winter storm emergencies such as the New England Ice Storm of 1998 effects, pandemic activations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and localized hazardous materials responses tied to transportation incidents on corridors like Interstate 95. The agency has participated in multi-agency responses coordinating with Federal Emergency Management Agency Region I, the New Hampshire National Guard, the United States Coast Guard, regional hospitals including Parkland Medical Center, and volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross and Merrimack County Emergency Management partners in mutual aid exercises.
Category:Emergency management agencies in the United States