About the Office
The Marshall County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) supports all public safety agencies in the county and responds to emergencies of every kind. Established in 1952 as the local Civil Defense Authority, the agency became the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency in 1979 as its scope expanded. Following the events of September 11, 2001, homeland security responsibilities were added, and in 2004 the office was renamed the Office of Emergency Management / Homeland Security, reflecting its dual role in directing emergency management and homeland security efforts for county residents.

Response Capabilities
OEM's staff, including more than 20 trained volunteers, responds to fires and natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, ice storms, extreme temperatures, and drought. The office maintains a range of specialized response capabilities:
· Search and Rescue Team
       o Canine Unit
· Technical Rescue Team
       o Low and High Angle Rope Rescue
       o Confined Space Rescue
       o Structural Collapse Rescue
· Animal Rescue
· Hazmat Team
       o 3 TEMA Hazardous Materials Specialists
· Fire Suppression Unit
· Damage Assessment Team
· Auxiliary Communications Team
· OEM also monitors all weather conditions and USGS water levels on local creeks and the Duck River, issuing alerts and warnings as needed.

Additional Responsibilities
OEM maintains the county's Emergency Operations Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, Pandemic Plan, School Safety Plans, POD and Donations Plan, Debris Management Plan, and related documents. The office operates and maintains the Marshall County Emergency Operations Center and Joint Information Center for events exceeding normal response capacity.
OEM is a member of the South Central Regional Healthcare Coalition, partnering with the Marshall County Health Department, MMC, and EMS on pandemic and outbreak training and response. The office also holds active membership in the Emergency Management Association of Tennessee, the District 6 Homeland Security Council, the Marshall County Emergency Communication District (911), and is an affiliate member of Tennessee Association of Rescue Squads (TARS) .
Additional responsibilities include:
• Serving as the county's lead agency for Tactical Interoperable Communications
• Maintaining Annual SARA Title III reporting on Hazardous Materials stored in Marshall County
• Facilitating and Chairing the Local Emergency Planning Committee
The office operates as the local branch of, and receives funding from, TEMA, FEMA, and the Office of Homeland Security, as well as Marshall County Government. OEM also applies for and administers state and federal grants that fund equipment, training, and mitigation projects for emergency services, utilities, and response agencies throughout Marshall County.