Defiance County Public Safety Service
Emergency Management Agency (EMA)
The Defiance County Emergency Management Agency was established in accordance with Ohio Revised Code (ORC 5502) in 1989 to serve as a countywide agency to oversee the planning, response, recovery, mitigation, and coordination of all efforts utilized in major emergencies / disasters.
In Defiance County, the EMA also serves as the coordinating agency and public information arm of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (L.E.P.C.) which maintains, updates, and coordinates laws, records, and training exercises dealing with the storage, manufacture, and transportation of hazardous materials in our community.
The EMA has the responsibility for maintaining the county's Emergency Operations Center (E.O.C.) located at 22491 Mill St. in Brunersburg and for establishing a secondary E.O.C. as needed.
The agency is also charged with the establishment and updating of the County's Emergency Operations Plan (E.O.P.). This document is a formal outline of emergency response to all types of emergencies / disasters.
A full time Director, Julie A. Rittenhouse, and an Deputy Director Nicole Zolman, as well as various volunteers staff the agency.
For more information on emergency management, please visit these resources:
- State of Ohio Emergency Management
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Emergency Response Handbook
- NIOSH - Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
- HAZMAT
- Are you Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness
Safety, Loss & Risk Management
Coordinate safety training requests with County Agencies / Public Authorities
Evaluate and review requests from departments on safety concerns / issues
Monitoring and documenting improvements made with regards to safety
Notifies departments of upcoming training, as well as safety corrective measures needed
Conduct County facility inspections
Call for information: (419) 782-1130
In-Service Programs
Tornado & Severe Weather
Storm Spotter Training
Hazmat Awareness
Defensive Driving
Drug-Free Work Place Training
Plus many other programs available! Call (419) 782-1130 for more information.