1941
An emergency management organization was established during World War II.
1951
In response to the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1951, the Philadelphia Civil Defense Council was lead by a Director appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Mayor. It was a separate agency originally reporting to the Mayor and, starting in 1965, the Managing Director.
1972
The Mayor transferred the Philadelphia Civil Defense Council to the Fire Department, where it became the Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP). Upon the Mayor’s recommendation, the Governor appointed the Fire Commissioner as Director.
Until the mid 1970s, Federal law limited “civil defense/civil preparedness/emergency preparedness” for only enemy attack.
At that time, the Federal Defense Civil Preparedness Agency broadened its scope to include an “all risk” approach, covering natural and man-made as well as war-caused disasters.
The Philadelphia also expanded its activities to include all hazards and events that could cause mass casualties, destruction of property, and/or disruption of normal activities or services.
1975
When the new Fire Administration Building was dedicated in 1975, it included the City’s Emergency Operations Center adjacent to the new Office of Emergency Preparedness.
1985
The City’s Office of Emergency Preparedness Executive Director was appointed County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator by the Governor, following a recommendation by the Mayor.
In November 1985, the Office of Emergency Preparedness was transferred to the Managing Director’s Office, renamed the Office of Emergency Management, and its Executive Director reported to the City Managing Director.
The Civil Service position of Emergency Management Services Director was formally established responsibility for environmental and hazardous material activity coordination was transferred to OEM, and the EOC was improved and automated.
2006
The Mayor established a six-month Emergency Preparedness Review Committee to examine, with the assistance of independent experts, the status of Philadelphia’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The Committee conducted a comprehensive review of thousands of pages of existing documents, agreements and plans – coupled with more than 200 extensive in-depth interviews and site visits.
The assessment and more than 200 recommendations focused on eight strategic themes:
- enhance emergency management capacity
- enhance emergency communications
- integrate health and human services into emergency management
- enhance Federal, State, regional and local partnerships
- promote transparency and community engagement in emergency management
- ensure continuity of government and continuity of operations planning
- protect critical infrastructure and promote public-private partnerships
- develop comprehensive evacuation plans.
The Mayor signed an Executive Order formally adopting the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as City policy and certified the City’s compliance with NIMS, ensuring that key City staff members undergo NIMS training.
The Mayor authorized the creation of a new position, Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management, charged solely with emergency management duties. Under the leadership of the Deputy Managing Director, the City’s long-term strategic plans for emergency preparedness and the implementation of a holistic approach to emergency management planning are currently underway. City departments implement a significant number of emergency management and preparedness reforms.
2007 - Present
The Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management and the staff of the Managing Director's Office of Emergency Management continue to implement the recommendations outlined in the Emergency Preparedness Review Committee Report, such as developing plans for vulnerable populations, expanding the use of Geographic Information Systems, and partnering with the private sector.