The Emergency Management Division is a branch of the Department of Public Safety. The Clarion County Emergency Management Agency is responsible for the five phases of Emergency Management. The five phases are prevention, preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. To accomplish these phases, the Emergency Management Staff work closely with the Clarion County Commissioners, municipal leaders, local coordinators, first responders and other agencies that may be specific to certain events or plans.
Clarion County has seen a number of disasters over the years. In 1985, Clarion County was touched by some of the worst tornados to ever occur in Western Pennsylvania. A large amount of wind damage occurred in the Northern Municipalities of Clarion County. In 1996, one of the worst floods in the recent history of Clarion County occurred. There were many homes and businesses destroyed and one fatality did occur as a result of the flood. In the first six months of 2017 Clarion County has seen an unprecedented six tornados and three heavy rain events.
Clarion County Emergency Management Staff are continuously updating and developing emergency plans and researching the resources that are available in Clarion County. The Emergency Management Division recently accomplished updates to the County Emergency Operations Plan and the County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) that every Township or Borough in Clarion County adopted as well.
As a result of extensive research and organizing, several emergency operational plans have been created in attempt to maintain control and safeguard Clarion's public during an emergency situation.