Emergency Management

The Emergency Management/Homeland Security Agency is responsible for the preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities before, during, and after an emergency or disaster affects Lafayette County. Emergency Management coordinates the direction of county government operations in response to emergencies. The EMA director acts under the policies determined by the Board of Supervisors and the State of Mississippi, and is subject to the Board’s general supervision and control. The EMA director will carry out the general policies of the Board in conformity with the guidelines established by the state emergency management and homeland security agencies in accordance with the established procedures and state laws.

The EMA director is responsible for the development and implementation of emergency operations plans, community preparedness activities, emergency communications, and coordination of emergency response agencies. The EMA director is also responsible for submission and administration of state and federal grants for mitigation, preparedness, and response projects.

CodeRED

CodeRED is a weather warning and emergency notification service utilized by Lafayette County that is used to alert citizens of various emergency events via cellular phone, landline phone, SMS text messages, and email.  Individuals must register their address and telephone numbers to receive these notifications. CodeRED Weather Warnings (Tornado Warnings, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Winter Storm Warning) are sent to registered phone numbers automatically when these warnings are issued by the National Weather Service (NWS).  Individuals can choose which of these warnings they will receive at the time of registration.  Warnings are sent to phones associated with a registered address only if the registered address is with in the warning area. The CodeRED Emergency Notification service is used by emergency officials to create messages that can be sent to citizens in targeted areas of the county.  These messages are used to inform citizens of the nature of the emergency, to give instructions on how to respond and other important information. Registration is also required to insure delivery of these messages.  CodeRED has mobile apps available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. CodeRED is provided by Lafayette County as a service to all citizens of the county.

Sign up for CODE RED

Communication Plans

Plan in advance what you will do in an emergency.  Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations.  See our Family Communication Plan page.

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the attack, the first important decision is whether you stay put or get away.  You should understand and plan for both possibilities.  Watch television, listen to the radio or use social media for official instructions as they become available.

Create a Plan to Shelter-in-Place.  There are circumstances when staying put and creating a barrier between yourself and potentially contaminated air outside, a process know as sheltering-in-place and sealing the room can be a matter of survival.  Consider precutting  plastic sheeting to seal windows, doors and air vents. Each piece should be several inches larger than the space you want to cover so that you can duct tape it flat against the wall.

Create a Plan to get away.  Plan in advance how you will assemble your family and anticipate where you will go.  Choose several destinations in different directions so you have options in an emergency.  If you have a car, keep at least a half tank of gas in at all times. Become familiar with alternate routes as well as other means of transportation out of your area.  Take your emergency supply kit with you and lock the door behind you.  Take pets with you if you are told to evacuate, however, if you are going to a public shelter, they may not be allowed inside.  If you believe the air is contaminated, drive with your windows and vents closed and keep the air conditioner and heater off.  Listen to the radio for instructions.

Know Emergency Plans at School and work.  Talk to your children’s schools and your employer about emergency plans.

Storm Shelters

There are storm shelters located throughout Lafayette County to serve the community in case of inclement weather. You can find the shelter locations here.

Please follow the Lafayette County Emergency Management on Facebook for updates and other important notices.