Mission Statement: "To create a community that is resilient to large-scale natural and man-made disaster, prepared to respond  effectively to a disaster in a way that minimizes the loss of lives and property by implementing the four pillars of emergency management namely mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery."

The City of Willard has created and maintained the local Emergency Operations Plan. That was first adopted in March of 2004, and most recently revised in 2014. This plan outlines the Direction and Control to be implemented in the case of a wide-scale disaster. It also outlines the actions expected by first-responders, city employees and support agencies during a disaster. This plan is updated annually and revised every five (5) years.

The Willard Emergency Management Office and Willard Public Works oversee the inspection, maintenance and upkeep of Willard's outdoor warning system. The majority of the City has outside warning coverage from the storm sirens. the six (6) storm sirens in Willard are located as follows:

• Arrowhead Road and West Jackson Street

• Main and Robberson Street

• Southview Street and King Drive

• New Melville at Quarry Road

• Hughes Road (North of Farm Road 94)

• Ross Road and Farm Road 94

Willard's outdoor warning system is activated by the Greene County Office of Emergency Management. Willard's outdoor warning system is connected for radio control activation, programmed with the Greene County Office of Emergency Management , allowing activation from the many activation sites within Springfield. They are tested the second Wednesday of every month at 10:00 a.m.

The Willard Emergency Management Department also oversees the City of Willard's Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program. There are a total of five (5) AED's that Emergency Management oversees which are located as follows:

• City Hall

• Willard Community Center

• Willard Recreation Center

• and two (2) with the Willard Police Department

If you have a storm shelter at your home, be sure and contact the emergency management director, Email Public Works Director Or (417) 742-3033) so it can be added to the database for places to check in the event of a tornado or other disaster.

In November 2004 the Willard City Council approved Willard's Pre-Disaster Natural Mitigation Plan. Mitigation involves planning and good decision making that strengthens a community against future disasters. it is the prevention stage of disaster preparedness. The City of Willard is looking to the future of reducing our vulnerabilities to potential disasters. This plan outlines in detail the natural hazards that threaten the Willard community with a historical record of each hazard in the region and likely projected impacts in the future. The plan concludes with a Future Mitigation Pathway, outlining a five (5) year plan of various projects to be completed to better fortify the community against the ravaging affects of natural disasters. It is necessary for future city planning to include the mitigation actions outlined in the mitigation plan. Copies of the Mitigation Plan are available at City Hall. Willard City Hall has been designated as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The entire building is approximately 2,000 square feet.
Within City Hall is a large conference room, approximately 1,000 square feet, which serves as the collective meeting room for all departments and city officials in times of emergency. The Alternate EOC is located at the Willard Police Station.

In the event of a disaster, the City of Willard plans to keep the public informed with the best available information, coordinating with all first responders. It is here under Response/Recovery, that one will be able to find important related to the disasters. The City strongly encourages everyone to make pre-arrangements regarding storm protection when severe weather approaches. This includes any type of in-house safe room or underground basements. One (1) local church has volunteered to offer their basement as a place for residents to seek shelter during severe weather (tornados) this church is:

• New Life Baptist Church located at 414 E. New Melville

These areas are contacted by  the Willard Fire Department and opened on a volunteer basis.

The Willard Emergency Management program is funded by a fifty/fifty (50/50) match grant called the Emergency Management Performance Grant. As appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2014 (Public Law 113-76); Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program provides resources to assist state, local, tribal and territorial governments in preparing for all hazards, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). The EMPG program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System (NPS) by supporting the building, sustainment and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal (the Goal) of a secure and resilient Nation. Delivering core capabilities requires the combined effort of the whole community rather than the exclusive effort of any single organization or level of government. EMPG's allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery mission areas.

Trevor Hoffman serves as the Emergency Management Director and can be reached at (417) 742-3033.

Emergency Management Involvement