Freeborn County

Department of Emergency Management

Mission:  In cooperation with our partners, we are committed to enhancing the quality of life in Freeborn County by assisting people to effectively prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against all hazards and disasters.

Vision:  Through the use of verifiable data, operate efficiently, formulate sound public policy, and enhance public awareness.

What is Emergency Management?

Emergency Management is the process of preparing for, mitigating, responding to and recovering from an emergency.

Emergency Management is a dynamic process.  Planning, though critical, is not the only component.  Training, conducting drills, testing equipment and coordinating activities with the community are other important functions.

Who We Are

The Freeborn County Department of Emergency Management (FC DEM) is part of the Freeborn County Sherriff’s Office.  (FC DEM) is charged with coordinating the emergency preparedness and homeland security efforts of the county.  In addition to planning and educating, we provide assistance to local jurisdictions and county agencies before, during and after disaster strikes.  FC DEM works closely with county, local and state law enforcement, and cooperatively with neighboring jurisdictions to enhance homeland security and better prepare for and respond to incidents ranging from tornadoes to terrorism.

Homeland Security involves working with all aspects of public safety - from the federal level to working with individual citizens - to ensure the most comprehensive and coordinated approach to protection of the public safety.  The FC DEM works with many agencies and jurisdictions to coordinate information, training and equipment needed for protecting the county and the nation from acts of terrorism.  In the awful event that such an act is perpetrated upon us, FC DEM members will work with these agencies and jurisdictions to meet the problem quickly, mitigate its effect, inform the public, and reduce the chances that such an event can happen again.

FC DEM also works with volunteer organizations and emergency services units that provide emergency communications, coordination of resources, planning and labor.  FC DEM supports local and neighboring community agencies such as; Fire, Ambulance, EMS, Sheriff, and Police Departments with coordination, logistics, communication and staging at emergency scenes.

Contact Information

Mark Roche – Director

Freeborn County Department of Emergency Management

Phone: (507) 377-5221

Email: mark.roche@co.freeborn.mn.us