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County Adopts 2025 Emergency Operations Plan; Director Highlights All‑hazards, ‘incident‑support’ Structure
Summary
Cumberland County commissioners adopted the 2025 Emergency Operations Plan, which updates roles and coordination procedures for county and municipal response to disasters and other emergencies.
Cumberland County commissioners approved the 2025 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), an all‑hazards document the county updates on a five‑year cycle to guide roles, responsibilities and coordination during disasters.
Michael Durkin, Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency director, told commissioners the updated plan reflects input from 22 municipalities, hospitals, utilities and other partners and expands the hazard list used to prioritize planning and response. Durkin said the county reorganized the EOP’s emergency operations center structure from a federal template to an “incident‑support” model that emphasizes supporting municipal incident commanders.
Nut graf: The updated plan clarifies county and municipal roles during incidents — including commissioners’ policy‑guidance role — and seeks to strengthen pre‑disaster planning, mitigation and multi‑agency coordination across the county.
Durkin said the plan lists commissioner responsibilities during emergencies (page 21 in the document) and that commissioners provide policy guidance in coordination with the county manager and CCEMA director. He noted the 2019 plan had limited municipal participation, while the current revision incorporated significantly more local feedback and hazard data.
Durkin described the plan as “all hazards,” covering events from severe winter storms and flooding to cyber incidents or mass‑casualty events. He said winter weather remains a top local hazard, and that the plan raises the profile of mass‑casualty concerns after recent regional events.
Commissioners voted to accept the plan and sign the required documents; staff said municipalities that need county support will continue to rely on local incident commanders while CCEMA provides coordination, resources and specialized capabilities.
Ending: The board adopted the 2025 EOP and directed staff to proceed with implementation steps, including continued outreach to municipal emergency managers and readiness work for expected changes at the federal and state emergency‑management levels.
