History

Prior to the 1800s, disasters were managed solely with local resources. In December 1802, fire engulfed the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, destroying large areas. This disaster exceeded local capabilities and had a severe impact on commerce for the entire Nation. In response, Congress acted swiftly to pass the Congressional Relief Act of 1803, enabling the Federal Government to be involved in a local disaster.

The next notable era in the evolution of emergency management began with World War II in the 1940s and continued with the Cold War era beginning in the 1950s. During World War II,  the Federal Government established civil defense programs, such as air raid warning and emergency shelter systems, to protect the civilian population. The Disaster Relief Act of 1950 gave the President authority to issue disaster declarations that allowed Federal agencies to provide direct assistance to State and local governments.

The Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 created a nationwide system of civil defense agencies, and defense drills became routine in schools, government agencies, and other organizations. During this era, emergency management was thought of as an extension of the civil defense movement.

In 1952, President Truman issued Executive Order 10427, which emphasized that Federal disaster assistance was intended to supplement, not supplant, the resources of State, local, tribal, and private-sector organizations. Today’s emergency management system supports the premise that disasters are best managed at the lowest possible governmental level, and that Federal assistance supports and does not direct these efforts.

During the 1960's and 1970s, the Nation experienced numerous devastating natural disasters. These disasters drew the Nation’s attention away from the civil defense mission to the need for well-coordinated Federal response and recovery operations during natural disasters.

As a result, Congress passed the Disaster Relief Act of 1969. This act created a Federal Coordinating Officer to represent the President in the relief effort. The law was extended as the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, which established the process of Presidential disaster declarations.

To ensure coordination of Federal disaster response and recovery, President Carter’s 1979 Executive order merged many of the separate disaster-related responsibilities into a new Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.

In November 1988, Congress amended the Disaster Relief Act and renamed it the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, often referred to simply as the Stafford Act. The Stafford Act created the system in place today by which a Presidential disaster declaration triggers financial and physical assistance through FEMA.

At the beginning of this century, the Nation was confronted with the terrorist attacks of September 11th and major natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. These events prompted dramatic changes in emergency management, including the need to safeguard the Nation from all threats and hazards.

As we learned today's Emergency Management grew out of the Civil Defense programs started during WWII.

In Scioto County in the 1970’s Civil Defense planning was handled by Carl Ferguson and Harold Vulgamore, who planned for disasters and the Cold War potential with very little funding. 

Disaster planning was one of several duties that were assigned to the two men as state and federal requirements did not require a full time position.

In the 1980’s, the agency name changed to Disaster Services to reflect a more focused approach on weather disasters and getting away from nuclear attack planning. Hazardous Material Accident planning was required in 1987. Harold Vulgamore at that time became the Disaster Services Coordinator and established the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to meet the new law requirements. 

In November 1988,  with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or the “Stafford Act” going into effect. The federal law was designed to bring an orderly and systematic means of federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens.

The new law required counties to have a full time director, to facilitate emergency planning, local-state-federal coordination, and to ensure program requirements were met.

The new law focused on the four phases of Emergency Management activities which include Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. In addition, Hazardous Chemical Reporting and planning requirements increased for each county.

The Board of Scioto County Commissioners, by resolution adopted on August 6, 1991, established the Scioto County Emergency Management Agency under Section 5915.071 of the Ohio Revised Code (later amended and renamed ORC Section 5502.26) for the purpose of fulfilling all state and federal laws, regulations, and requirements pertaining to emergency management.

Subsequently in 1991, twenty-one political subdivisions comprising Scioto County, including Bloom Township, Brush Creek Township, Clay Township, Green Township, Harrison, Jefferson Township, Madison Township, Morgan Township, Nile Township, Porter Township, Rarden Township, Rush Township, Union Township, Vernon Township, Washington Township, the Village of New Boston, the Village of Otway, the Village of Rarden, the Village of South Webster, and the City of Portsmouth, all entered into a contract with the Scioto County Emergency Management Agency to provide, at no cost, an emergency management program to the subdivisions.

Kim Carver was appointed the first Emergency Management Director also in 1991 by the Scioto County Commissioners and served in that capacity until July 1, 2020.

In the 2000’s with concerns over cyber security and terrorist attacks Emergency Management’s role grow to include involvement in Homeland Security. Planning for response and recovery to an ever changing list of potential hazards saw planning requirements grow by tenfold. Funding became available for the purchase of equipment to be ready to respond to home grown and international terrorists.

On July 2, 2020, Larry Mullins was appointed as the current Scioto EMA Director by the Board of Scioto County Commissioners.