Disaster & Emergency Services

About the ServicesDES Logo Transparent Black

  • We mitigate those dangers we can
  • We prepare for those dangers we cannot eliminate
  • We respond to those events that occur and
  • We recover from those events we survive

Responsibilities

The following are responsibilities and services of the local Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) coordinator (normally contacted through dispatch).

  • Local Coordinators;
    • Prepare local emergency/disaster declaration for local chief executive
    • Can obtain any type of local resource
    • Can obtain state and federal assistance
    • Keep local elected officials informed
    • Keep state and federal government informed
    • Act as liaison between IC and other agencies
    • Facilitate mutual aid
    • Establish and manage Emergency Operations Center
    • And more (arrange for sheltering of evacuees, work on recovery issues, etc.)
  • Process to obtain help:
    • Contact local Emergency Management Office for help:  (406)433-2220
    • If unable to contact local coordinator, call state DES at (406) 324-4777 (24 hours a day) and ask for the DES duty officer

Montana DES division initial response assistance is at request of the local incident commander or DES coordinator in accordance with Local Emergency Operations Plan. This is at no cost to the local jurisdiction.

  • DES advisor (agency representative) has knowledgeable about:
    • Local emergency / disaster declaration process
    • Two-mill emergency levy
    • State emergency/disaster declaration process
    • Presidential declaration process
    • Effects / expectations of declarations
    • Perform ICS agency representative duties
  • Incident Command System (ICS) advisor:
    • Experience at complex incidents
    • Duties include:
      • Advise / coach on command structure and organizations
      • Advise / coach on logistical needs
      • Advise / coach on planning and documentation needs
      • Advise / coach on financial documentation
      • Technical expert
    • An experienced operational expert for the type of incident the community is responding to
  • Process to obtain help: Contact your local DES coordinator (normally through local dispatch). If you are unable to contact the coordinator, call the state DES at 406-324-4777 (24 hours a day) and ask for the DES duty officer