About Us
What does the Division of Emergency Management (DEM) do?
DEM (pronounced D-E-M) plays an active role during emergencies and disasters. The Division coordinates emergency management efforts between federal, state and local government agencies. These efforts include preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
DEM also brings subject matter experts and multiple state agencies together at the State Emergency Operations Center to support and coordinate response and recovery as needed.
While Utah is not located in the hurricane path or tornado alley, disasters strike here. For the list of threats and hazards in Utah see the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. When no incidents are underway, the Division’s year-round efforts prepare the State of Utah to better respond to and recover from disasters.
Download: DEM Org chart Feb 2015
DEM prepares individuals and communities for disasters through outreach and training programs. The division trains nearly 1,000 emergency responders annually in areas such as domestic preparedness, hazardous material, the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program, professional development and others.
Thousands of Utahans receive emergency preparedness education material from DEM. This information helps families prepare to be self-reliant during a disaster situation.
But that is not all we do. DEM also administers various ongoing programs that make Utah a safer, better place to live:
- Homeland Security Taskforce
- Utah Center for Domestic Preparedness
- Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program
- Safe Schools Leadership Consortium
- Search and Rescue Advisory Board
- Hazardous Materials Institute
- Nature Safe Utah
- National Flood Insurance Program
- Flood Mitigation Assistance Program
- Department of Justice Weapons of Mass Destruction Grant
- DEM Earthquake Program
- Emergency Alert System
- Community Liaison Officer Program
- Interagency Technical Team
- State Hazard Mitigation Program
- State and Local Assistance Program
- Community Assistance Program
- Excess/Surplus Property Distribution Program