Kane County Celebrates 50 Years of Emergency Management

​Kane County is marking a major milestone: 50 years of coordinated emergency management. What started as a Cold War-era Civil Defense program has grown into a modern, countywide system dedicated to keeping residents safe during emergencies of all kinds.

It all began on January 13, 1976, when the Kane County Board created the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA). The goal was simple but vital: coordinate preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across the county. Over time, the agency evolved into today’s Kane County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), reflecting a broader mission and closer collaboration with public safety partners.

OEM’s work extends beyond responding to disasters. The agency leads initiatives like the Kane County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, public education programs, and partnerships with fire, law enforcement, public health, hospitals, schools, and volunteer agencies—building community resilience every step of the way.

While OEM has a staff of dedicated members they are also supported by a team of unpaid professionals who donated more than 14,000 hours to Kane County in 2025. This time was spent  in - traffic control, damage assessments, storm patrols, search & rescue - amounts to $460,000 services provided to Kane County residents.

To commemorate the anniversary, the Kane County Board approved a proclamation recognizing January 13, 2026, as the 50th anniversary of Kane County Emergency Management. Residents are encouraged to celebrate by learning more about emergency preparedness and joining local resilience efforts.

“It’s a moment to honor the past and look forward to the future,” the proclamation reads, “and to recognize the dedication of those who have worked tirelessly to keep Kane County safe for 50 years.”

Learn more about the work of the Kane County Office of Emergency Management by clicking here.

Sign-up for Kane County Public Safety Alerts by clicking here.