Cecil County Department of Emergency Services (formerly Emergency Management and Civil Defense) is the county’s public safety agency responsible for 9-1-1 Emergency Communications, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management Operations, Hazardous Material Response, Homeland Security, All Hazards Planning and Technical Support Services.

The agency was originally established to coordinate civilian preparation for nuclear attack during the mid-20th century. The agency’s director is appointed by the Governor to carryout emergency management initiatives, sanctioned by the federal and state governments. That role expanded to emergency preparedness and planning for natural and man-made disasters that the county faces.

The Emergency Management Operations Division is comprised of a combined career/volunteer staff. Personnel not only develop plans for emergency response to known natural, man-made, nuclear and technological disasters, but carryout those plans and to assess the readiness of the Division. The Emergency Operations Center is located within the department’s main operating facility. The center is activated and becomes the coordinating point for all agencies that have response responsibilities during an event that poses a risk to life and property.

Over the past thirty years the agency became responsible for the development and maintenance of the county’s emergency communications system used by fire, rescue and emergency medical and law enforcement personnel as well as other county agencies. Public access to the universal 9-1-1 emergency number began in the late the 1970’s. The 9-1-1 Emergency Communications and Technical Support Divisions are assigned these tasks.

In 1988, the department was assigned the task of establishing an Emergency Medical Services section to supplement the service provided by the county’s nine volunteer fire companies. The county now operates three 24 hour a day paramedic stations, strategically located throughout the county to provide the best response times to medical emergencies.