Public Safety and Emergency Management

Public safety and emergency management have always been critical functions of state government, but in the wake of the 9/11 attack, the role of these agencies in the enhanced national security network is even more important.

Departments of public safety are usually run the state's highway patrol or state police and their training facilities. Some departments may also include the state bureau of investigation, crime lab, division of fire safety, commercial carrier inspection and weight load management office, office of narcotics enforcement, or state public safety telecommunications network.

On public safety websites, visitors may:

• Report a crime
• File an accident report
• See lists of sex offenders, fugitives, or missing persons
• Check a criminal records database
• Get information on Internet or computer crime, viruses, or identity theft
• License a handgun
• Get traffic safety tips
• See Amber Alerts for missing children
• Watch training videos on safety issues
• Consult crime statistics
• Learn about state and national homeland security efforts

Some states handle their motor vehicle registrations out of their departments of public safety.

Departments of emergency management assist the state in preparing for and coping with such natural or man-made disasters as floods, fire, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, drought, epidemics, electrical or computer outages, and terrorist attacks.

On emergency management websites, visitors may get information on:

• Current emergency alerts, including weather forecasts
• Preparing families, the elderly, businesses, farms and schools for emergencies
• Disaster relief, including personal assistance funding, temporary housing, and public assistance
• Federally-declared disaster regions in a state, relief application deadlines and assessment forms
• Emergency preparedness plans
• Safe room or shelter initiatives and grants
• Safe cleanup practices

Some emergency management departments also deal with hazardous materials.

Alabama	Department of Homeland Security Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency
Alaska	Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Arizona	Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Management Peace Officer Standards and Training Board
Arkansas	Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission Department of Emergency Management State Police
California	Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Department of the California Highway Patrol Emergency Medical Services Authority Governor's Office of Emergency Services Office of Traffic Safety Seismic Safety Commission
Colorado	Department of Public Safety Office of Emergency Management
Connecticut	Department of Public Safety Office of Emergency Management
Delaware	Delaware Emergency Management Agency Department of Public Safety Department of Public Safety: Delaware State Police
Florida	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Division of Emergency Management Florida Highway Patrol Secure Florida
Georgia	Department of Public Safety Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Hawaii	Department of Public Safety Hawaii State Civil Defense
Idaho	Bureau of Homeland Security Idaho State Police
Illinois	Department of Nuclear Safety Emergency Management Agency Illinois Homeland Security Illinois State Fire Marshal Illinois State Police
Indiana	Emergency Management Agency Indiana State Police
Iowa	Department of Public Safety Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Kansas	Division of Emergency Management Kansas Amber Plan Kansas Bureau of Investigation Kansas Highway Patrol
Kentucky	Division of Emergency Management Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Kentucky State Police
Louisiana	Department of Public Safety Louisiana State Police Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Maine	Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency
Maryland	Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Maryland Emergency Management Agency Maryland State Police
Massachusetts	Emergency Management Agency Executive Office of Public Safety Massachusetts State Police
Michigan	Department of State Police
Minnesota	Department of Public Safety
Mississippi	Department of Public Safety Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security
Missouri	Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency
Montana	Disaster and Emergency Services Division
Nebraska	Emergency Management Agency
Nevada	Department of Emergency Management Department of Motor Vehicles
New Hampshire	Bureau of Emergency Management Department of Safety Department of Safety
New Jersey	New Jersey Homeland Security New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management
New Mexico	Department of Public Safety Office of Emergency Management
New York	Governor's Traffic Safety Committee New York State Police State Emergency Management Office
North Carolina	Department of Crime Control and Public Safety Division of Emergency Management
North Dakota	Division of Emergency Management North Dakota Highway Patrol
Ohio	Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Agency
Oklahoma	Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Department of Civil Emergency Management Department of Civil Emergency Management Department of Public Safety
Oregon	Department of State Police Office of Homeland Security
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency Pennsylvania State Police
Rhode Island	Emergency Management Agency State Police
South Carolina	Department of Public Safety Emergency Management Division
South Dakota	Department of Public Safety Office of Emergency Management
Tennessee	Department of Safety Emergency Management Agency
Texas	Commission on State Emergency Communications Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Management Texas Commission on Fire Protection
Utah	Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Services & Homeland Security
Vermont	Department of Public Safety State Police
Virginia	Department of Emergency Management Department of Fire Programs Office of Commonwealth Preparedness Secretary of Public Safety Virginia State Police
Washington	Washington State Emergency Management Washington State Patrol
West Virginia	Office Of Emergency Services State Police
Wisconsin	Wisconsin Emergency Management
Wyoming	Office of Homeland Security Wyoming Highway Patrol