7 Critical Ways The Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) Is Preparing For Disaster In 2025
The safety and security of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, are constantly being reinforced by a dedicated, 24/7/365 operation. The Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA), which operates under the broader Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services (LCDES), is the central hub for all large-scale disaster planning, response, and recovery efforts. With a proactive approach to evolving threats and a focus on community preparedness, the agency’s recent initiatives—especially its 2025 awareness campaign and critical infrastructure upgrades—are essential reading for every resident and business owner in the county.
The LCEMA’s mission extends far beyond simply reacting to a crisis; it is deeply rooted in mitigation and planning to minimize the impact of future events, whether they are natural disasters or man-made incidents. Information current as of December 22, 2025, highlights a significant push for public engagement and a strategic overhaul of key operational capabilities, ensuring the county's first responders and citizens are ready for the unthinkable.
LCEMA Leadership and Core Mission Profile
The Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) functions as the planning and coordination arm of the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services (LCDES). The agency is tasked with four core phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This comprehensive approach ensures that resources are allocated effectively before, during, and after a major event.
Key Personnel and Organizational Entities
- Parent Organization: Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services (LCDES)
- Director: Robert Dowd (Director of LCDES)
- Deputy Director of Emergency Management: Gary Verna
- Primary Location: 1805 Cornwall Road, Lebanon, PA 17042
- Jurisdiction: All municipalities within Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
- Key Partners: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), local Police, Fire, and EMS agencies.
The leadership, including Director Robert Dowd and Deputy Director Gary Verna, oversees a complex network of operational divisions designed to provide professional, efficient, and reliable service to the public and first responders throughout Lebanon County 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
1. The 2025 Emergency Preparedness Awareness Campaign
In a major push for public safety, the LCDES launched a significant emergency preparedness awareness campaign in June 2025. This initiative is not just a general reminder; it is a targeted effort to encourage every Lebanon County resident to take concrete, personal steps toward self-sufficiency during a crisis. The campaign underscores the fact that being prepared is a personal responsibility that ultimately benefits the entire community when a disaster occurs.
A central tenet of the campaign is the call for residents to review and update their existing emergency preparedness plans. This includes refreshing emergency kits, verifying communication plans with family members, and knowing evacuation routes. Deputy Director Gary Verna is a key voice in this effort, stressing that a well-informed and prepared citizenry is the first line of defense against any large-scale emergency, from severe weather events like flooding and winter storms to man-made incidents.
2. Major Updates to the Hazard Mitigation Plan
A crucial component of the LCEMA’s mitigation phase is the regular update of the county's Hazard Mitigation Plan. The 2023 Lebanon County Hazard Mitigation Plan draft is a recent, key document currently awaiting public review before final approval by both PEMA and FEMA.
This plan is a strategic roadmap for reducing the county's long-term risk from natural and technological hazards. The update is vital because it incorporates the latest data on local vulnerabilities and recommends specific, actionable mitigation projects for municipalities across the county. The plan details how various municipalities have updated their participation status, ensuring a unified and coordinated effort across all local governments to address specific natural hazards, such as increased flooding incidents and other climate-related risks. Its goal is to create a more resilient Lebanon County by proactively implementing measures that lessen the severity of future disaster impacts.
3. Enhanced Operational Capabilities: The Special Operations Division
The LCEMA, through the LCDES Operations Division, maintains a highly specialized team ready to handle complex, high-risk incidents that go beyond the scope of typical first responder capabilities. The Operations Division is responsible for several critical functions that demonstrate the agency's commitment to cutting-edge emergency response.
- Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Response: The County of Lebanon Special Operations Team is the state-certified hazardous materials team for Lebanon County. The team undergoes rigorous training to safely manage chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) incidents.
- Technical Rescue: This includes specialized responses for vehicle accidents, confined space rescues, trench rescues, and other situations requiring advanced equipment and training.
- UAS Drone Operations: The division utilizes Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, for critical tasks such as searching for missing persons, assessing damage after a disaster, and providing real-time aerial intelligence to incident commanders.
The agency recently upgraded its main response and command vehicle for the hazmat unit, a clear investment in maintaining a top-tier capability to protect the community from complex hazards.
4. The Reliability of 911 Communications
The 911 Communications Center is the lifeline of Lebanon County’s emergency services. The LCEMA is responsible for ensuring the uninterrupted operation of this critical service, providing immediate dispatch for Police, Fire, and EMS services. The county’s commitment to reliability was demonstrated by the seamless continuity of 911 services even when the statewide emergency call system faced disruptions.
This resilience is due to built-in redundancies and a state-of-the-art operational center. The LCEMA’s focus on the 911 system ensures that every call for help is answered promptly and that first responders are dispatched with precision, a fundamental component of effective emergency response.
5. Community Outreach and Training Programs
Beyond the major planning and operational entities, the LCEMA/LCDES provides a variety of community-focused programs and training to build a culture of preparedness. While the June 2025 campaign is the most recent highlight, the agency continuously offers resources such as the Emergency Preparedness Guide and specific plans like the Child Care Emergency Plan.
The agency also coordinates with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to facilitate training and exercises for local emergency managers, ensuring that all levels of government are aligned and proficient in disaster response protocols.
6. Collaboration with State and Federal Entities (PEMA & FEMA)
The effectiveness of the LCEMA is heavily reliant on its strong working relationship with higher-level governmental agencies. The collaboration with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is constant, particularly in securing funding for mitigation projects and ensuring that the county’s plans meet federal standards. The approval of the Hazard Mitigation Plan by PEMA and FEMA is a critical step that unlocks future funding for essential safety projects.
This inter-agency cooperation is vital for large-scale recovery operations, ensuring that state and federal aid can be deployed quickly and efficiently to Lebanon County after a major disaster. Entities like the South Central Task Force are also part of this broader network, demonstrating a regional approach to emergency management.
7. The Continuous Cycle of Planning and Adaptation
The work of the Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency is a continuous cycle of planning, adapting, and training. The recent focus on the new service vehicle for the hazmat team, the public preparedness campaign, and the finalization of the Hazard Mitigation Plan all point to an agency that is actively evolving to meet new and emerging threats. The LCEMA is the quiet but powerful force behind the scenes, dedicated to ensuring that when the next critical moment arrives, Lebanon County is not just ready to respond, but is already resilient enough to withstand the impact.
Residents are strongly encouraged to heed the agency's call to action by creating or updating their own family emergency plans and reviewing the resources available on the LCDES website. A prepared community is the ultimate measure of the LCEMA's success.
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