The Manchester Emergency Management Program is the planned local-government response to the potential for an emergency or disaster. Its objectives are to insure that significant emergency situations will result in a coordinated response and the orderly and efficient handling of emergency operations; to insure for the continuity of government during the period of the disaster; and to minimize the loss of life, property and for the continuation of emergency and utility services.

Emergency management attempts to organize and plan for the response of the various resources and capabilities of the community at large. Those resources and capabilities include local governments (emergency services), public companies (utilities), social services (The Red Cross & Salvation Army), emergency medical services (ambulance and hospitals), the state government (SEMA), the federal government (FEMA) and much more. The community’s resources and capabilities are enhanced through volunteerism and mutual aide agreements.

In 2004, the City of Manchester adopted the Regional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan, while regional, is also Manchester specific in identifying the various natural disaster threats that face our community. By adopting the plan, our board of alderman has resolved to participate in natural hazard mitigation and to work toward becoming a safer community.

For information concerning Manchester Emergency Management please contact the City’s Emergency Management Director: Lt. Tim Walsh. He can be contacted at 636/227-1385 Ext. 119.

Related Documentation & Programs:

Citizen Corps Council of Manchester
Code 1000 Plan
Lafayette Area Evacuation Plan
Lafayette Area Mutual Aid Agreement
Manchester Emergency Operations Plan
NIMCAST
Regional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan: June 2004

The Manchester Emergency Operations Plan establishes a basic plan of policies and procedures to save lives, minimize injuries, protect property, preserve functioning civil government, and maintain economic activities essential to survival and recovery from both natural and technological hazards. It establishes the guidelines for conducting efficient, effective, coordinated emergency operations involving the use of all resources belonging to this jurisdiction or available to it.

The Mayor is the Chief Executive of the City and will exercise direction over emergency operations within the City. The Board of Alderman will retain legislative authority and may pass emergency legislation necessitated by the emergency/disaster. The Emergency Management Director coordinates the efforts of the City’s Departments with their established responsibilities. The City’s Department Heads will be responsible for the emergency functions specified in the plan.

Our local first responders (police and fire departments) along with the state (SEMA) and federal governments (FEMA) have promoted and supported the training and organizing of citizen volunteers within the City of Manchester to aide in providing critical public services during extreme emergency/disaster situations. We coordinate the activities of these volunteers through the Citizen Corps Council of Manchester Missouri (CCCMM).

The CCCMM is comprised of trained volunteer residents from within the Manchester Community who are aided by local advisers representing emergency management, fire, police and emergency medical services. Volunteer programs which are overseen by the CCCMM are the Manchester Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Manchester Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) and Manchester Neighborhood Watch. The mission of CERT is to prepare our residents to help themselves and the community when strained emergency services are needed during and after an emergency/disaster. The goals of VIPS are to improve our citizens’ understanding of the processes of law enforcement through training and also, to provide the police department with enthusiastic volunteers to assist in a variety of department operations, freeing up sworn officers to spend more time patrolling the city’s streets. Neighborhood Watch is designed to improve the safety and security of your neighborhood by coordinating efforts to stop crime and solve neighborhood problems. Each of the volunteer programs provide specific and detailed trainings to its participants. Inquiries concerning the volunteer programs should be directed to the program coordinator.

Manchester Continues to Seek Volunteers to Participate in the Community Emergency Response Team

The City of Manchester continues to seek volunteers for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). CERT participants are Manchester residents and/or employees of a Manchester based business or school who complete a 20 hour basic CERT training course instructed by our local police officers and fire fighters. Our CERT members range in age from their early twenties to senior citizens. Everyone can benefit from the training.

CERT personnel are called upon to participate in regular trainings and exercises that are designed to enhance the community’s emergency response capability. Training includes disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology & team organization and response to terrorism.

The CERT Program is designed to train citizens within the Manchester community to deal with an emergency/disaster that by its size and magnitude may overwhelm the ability of a limited number of emergency response personnel to meet all the demands for service. In a disaster, delays in public service responses can be expected. CERT volunteers expand our local government’s available community resources to handle an emergency. With CERT, trained volunteers can be relied upon to provide aide to the community and to support the efforts of professional public service personnel.

The Manchester CERT Program has experienced considerable growth over the last several years. Additional trainings and exercises are planned as the program increases its effectiveness and improves our community’s emergency/disaster response capability. An application for CERT training can be found on the City’s website or is available at the front desk at City Hall. Please direct any inquiries concerning CERT to Lt. Timothy Walsh at 636/227-1385 ext# 119.

Manchester Volunteer Program Coordinators

Neighborhood Watch
Lt. Tim Walsh
twalsh@manchestermo.gov
Office: 227-1385 Ext. 119

Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS)
Lt. Robert Fritschle
rfritschle@manchestermo.gov
Office: 227-1385 Ext. 302