Emergency Management


Emergency Management

Floods, earthquakes, severe storms, landslides, hazardous material spills, and wildfires are just a few examples of emergencies in Cache County that Emergency Management has played an active roll in. But what does Emergency Management do when there are no emergencies? Emergency Management coordinates a number of ongoing programs such as homeland security, domestic preparedness, flood mitigation, emergency alert system, and interagency coordination that make Cache Valley a safer, better place to work and live.

Will Lusk is the Emergency Manager for Cache County. His responsibility includes emergency preparedness education to help families prepare to be self-reliant during a disaster. He also oversees the day-to-day operation of the Emergency Operations Center (E.O.C.). Its purpose is to provide the physical location and the equipment necessary for those persons responsible for managing a countywide emergency or disaster.

During an emergency, natural disaster, or critical situation the Cache County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management will use the cachecountyalert.org website to share essential information and real-time updates. Information will also be broadcast on the Cache County Emergency Management radio station WQKB (1610 AM)

To contact the Cache County Emergency Manager click here.



Emergency Management Staff

Emergency Manager

Assistant Emergency Manager

Volunteer Programs Coordinator

Communications Team Leader

Public Liaison

Emergency Alerts

The Cache County Sheriff's Office provides a central location to find information during an emergency to the surrounding communities.

During times of emergency and disaster, a dedicated website provides emergency status, alerts, and resources for volunteering.  Bookmark CacheCountyAlert.org to ensure you have ready access to this information.

To enroll in alerts sent to your mobile device, please visit this page.
https://cachecountyalert.org/emergency-alerts/

Information will also be broadcast on the Cache County Emergency Management radio station WQKB (1610 AM)

Community Programs

Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is a nationwide network of licensed amateur radio operators who volunteer to provide emergency communications support during disasters and public emergencies. When traditional systems fail, ARES helps keep critical information flowing.

Key Roles of ARES:

  • Support communication between emergency response agencies

  • Relay messages when phone, internet, or power are disrupted

  • Assist with coordination at shelters, hospitals, and emergency operations centers

  • Provide coverage for public safety during large-scale events

Why ARES Is Important:

  • Operates independently of commercial infrastructure

  • Rapidly deployable and highly adaptable

  • Volunteers are trained in emergency communication protocols and procedures

Partnerships:
ARES works closely with emergency management agencies, the Red Cross, hospitals, and other organizations to enhance community resilience.

When the grid goes down, ARES helps keep the lines of communication open.

In Cache County, we partner with the Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club ARES Team.  Visit their site to get involved.  https://barconline.org/ares/

Community Emergency Response Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Currently there are CERT programs in North Logan and Hyrum. If you are interested in receiving CERT training you are encouraged to contact the CERT program manager in the community closest to you.


North Logan - https://www.facebook.com/NorthLoganCity/

Hyrum - https://www.hyrumcity.gov/administration/page/volunteer-service-opportunities

Because Cache County is very rural in nature, individuals such as yourself will likely be the first on scene for a major or large scale disaster. Getting CERT trained may just be the deciding factor on how well you and your neighbors survive the disaster. Contact your closest CERT program manager and begin your training today.

Different regions are susceptible to unique natural and man-made disasters.  Guidance for disaster topics that are possible in Cache County is provided on the pages linked below.  For more additional preparedness information contact the Cache County Emergency Management office.

 

Artistic graphic representing an home impacted by an earthquake Artistic graphic representing a home impacted by a flood
Earthquakes Flooding
Artistic graphic representing a home impacted by a mudslide Artistic graphic representing a home in a severe winter storm
Mudslides Severe Winter Storms
Artistic representation of people evacuating a residential neighborhood Artistic graphic of a cat rescued by a fireman who is handing it to a woman
Sheltering & Evacuation Pets & Animals
An artistic representation of industrial area with a chemical spill Artistic graphic representing a group of people at an outdoor safety drill
Industrial Accident Active Shooter Preparedness

What is an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)?

An Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a centralized location where government and emergency management agencies coordinate response efforts during major incidents or disasters. EOCs support decision-making, resource coordination, and communication across multiple agencies and jurisdictions.

Key Functions of an EOC:

  • Coordinate emergency response and recovery operations

  • Gather and disseminate critical information

  • Allocate resources and manage logistics

  • Support incident command and on-the-ground responders

  • Maintain communication with the public, media, and partner agencies

When EOCs Are Activated:

  • Natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires, floods)

  • Technological or industrial accidents

  • Public health emergencies

  • Large-scale special events or threats to public safety

Why EOCs Matter:
By bringing together leadership, expertise, and real-time data, EOCs improve response effectiveness and help communities recover faster and more efficiently.







Emergency Preparedness

In the event of a disaster, are you and your family ready? Do you have the items necessary to provide for yourselves without any outside help? Do you have a family emergency plan? Being prepared isn’t a large job but it is a very important one. After watching several national disasters unfold in the media in recent years, it should be easy for us to realize that we need to be prepared.

The foundation of emergency preparedness is self-sufficiency. If each of us takes the responsibility of preparing ourselves and our families for a disaster, it will significantly increase our community’s ability to survive and recover from the incident. Your family should have and be familiar with a family emergency plan. Prepare a disaster supply (72 hour) kit and educate your family on what you are going to do and where you are going to meet in the event of a disaster. Conducting practice drills will insure that all family members are comfortable with implementing your family emergency plan.

Emergency Preparedness

 

In order for emergency responders to work effectively, they must first know that their families are safe. In an effort to prepare employees for natural or man-made disasters, the Sheriff’s Office has developed the Cache County Sheriff's Office Family Emergency Guide. This guide was originally developed for Sheriff’s Office employees; however, we felt that because of its value it should be made available to the public. The guide has instruction on how to prepare a family emergency plan, build a 72 hour kit, and prepare a financial contingency plan. Other issues addressed in the guide include the local Emergency Alert System radio station (610 AM), shelter-in-place procedure, and evacuation information. The guide also outlines ways to prepare for several possible disaster situations that may occur in our valley.

 

Cache County Sheriff's Office Family Emergency Guide

 

Below are links to several other very educational emergency preparedness websites:

 

 

Additional emergency preparedness information and reference material can be obtained by contacting the Cache County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management Coordinator at 755-1000. Email our Emergency Manager.