State Emergency Response Team

The Dept. of Crime Control and Public Safety is the state agency that directs and coordinates the state?s response to major emergencies and natural disasters, and it serves as the state?s Office of Homeland Security.

During an emergency the personnel of the Emergency Management Division become the support staff for the State Emergency Response Team (SERT). Depending on the type and magnitude of the emergency, other state agencies will be contacted and asked to send SERT representatives to the state Emergency Operation Center (EOC) in Raleigh.

The director of the Division of Emergency Management has the ability to be in contact with all 100 county emergency managers at once in order to keep abreast of developing emergency situations throughout the state.

Emergency information to the public is disseminated from the Emergency Operations Center. The EOC is also the location where the governor, lieutenant governor, selected department heads and members of SERT can stay abreast of the situation, consult with local and federal officials, receive requests for assistance and dispatch additional aid in a coordinated manner.

During an emergency, the public should stay tuned to their local TV or radio station for emergency information such as orders to evacuate, shelter-in-place, or food and water distribution points, etc.

Reference: General Statute 166-A

« this page last modified 01/05/06 »