Department of Emergency Management

The Department of Emergency Management is responsible for emergency preparedness, responses, and recovery efforts. Response activities include supporting EMS-Rescue, Search and Rescue, Auxiliary Communications, and 911 communication service along with emergency planning surrounding infrastructure and community resilience. Within Sebastian County, there are 18 Law Enforcement agencies, 2 EMS Agencies, 20 Fire Service Agencies that make up rural, city/municpal, state, federal, and university representatives. Sebastian County has an aggressive Training Program for the First Responders among the Rural Fire Departments. We currently have 38 First Responders among 17 Volunteer Municipal and/or Rural Fire Departments; 35 are EMTs and 6 are paramedics supporting EMS activities. Goal is to support the state and region with Preparedness, Training programs, Response and Recovery on a regional effort. Funding for the department is provided by an $18 fee added to personal property tax, approved by voters in 1986, and annual budgets, grants, and donations.

Services Offered

• Preparedness Actions
  • Arkansas Firewise
  • 811 Arkansas One Call
  • Stop The Bleed Training
  • Preparedness Education
  • Weather EOC and Skywarn Storm Spotters
  • Sebastian County Youth Preparedness Council
  • Community Emergency Response Team Training (CERT)
  • Storm Shelter Locations and Information
• Mitigation/Planning Actions
  • Floodplain Data and Guidance
    • 2012 Flood Plain Ordinance #2012-3
    • Model Flood Damage Prevention Code
  • Floodplain FEMA Map Service Center
  • Baseflood Elevation Certificate before New Construction/Fill or Rise
  • Fire Burn Ban - County Ordinance No. 88-13
  • ARK. CODE 5-38-310. Unlawful Burning
  • General Provisions § 14-16-117. Controlled burns
  • RULES REGARDING OPEN BURNING RULE 18.602 GENERAL PROHIBITION:
    No person shall cause or permit the open burning of refuse, garbage, trade waste,
    or other waste material, or shall conduct a salvage operation by open burning.
  • Emergency Action Plan Assessments
  • Hazard Vulnerable Assessments
  • Mitigation Grants for Critical Infrastructure
  • Homeland Security Grants for SWAT, BOMB and CBRNE/WND
  • Arkansas/ Oklahoma River Valley Regional Emergency Planning Committee / LEPC
• Response/Relief/Recovery Actions (see below or under "Resources")
  • 911 Communications and 911 Addressing of new address assignment form "Click Here"
  • Emergency Medical Services - Rescue (SCEMS)
  • EMS - Patient Report Request
  • Search and Rescue (SCSAR)
  • Auxiliary Emergency Communications  (ARES) (SCAUXCOM) Play Video
  • Other Resource Actions
  • COVID Response Information Sharing
  • River Valley Community Covid Resources 2022

For additional assistance or questions, call the ADH COVID-19 Call Center
1-800-803-7847 or email ADH.CoronaVirus@arkansas.gov
For immediate quarantine and isolation sheltering needs of
homeless or displaced individuals, please call 501-661-2136

• Arkansas 211 (DIAL 2-1-1)

Aging or Disability, Behavioral Health, Child Care, COVID-19, Disaster Assistance, Domestic Violence, Employment, Food, Health Care, Housing, Legal Assistance, Substance Use, Tax Preparation, Utility Assistance, Veterans, Youth

• United Way of Fort Smith Area: Working For Every Person in Every Community  
• United Way Resource Guide