The principal objective of the Office of Emergency Services (OES) is the coordination of emergency activities to save lives and reduce property losses during disasters and to expedite recovery from the effects of disasters.

On a day-to-day basis, the OES provides leadership, assistance, and support to state and local agencies in planning and preparing for the most effective use of federal, state, local, and private sector resources in emergencies. This emergency planning is based upon a system of mutual aid in which a jurisdiction relies first on its own resources, and then requests assistance from its neighbors. More.....