Kent Terwilliger,
Miner County Emergency Manager
The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management is charged with the overall mission of protecting South Dakota's citizens and their property from the effects of natural, manmade, and technological disasters. To fulfill this mission, the SDOEM recognizes and utilizes the four phases of emergency management:
Preparedness: Actions taken in advance of an emergency/disaster to develop
operational capabilities and facilitate response operations.
Response: Actions taken during or after an emergency/disaster to save
lives, minimize damages, and enhance recovery operations.
Recovery: Actions taken over the short or long term to return vital life support
systems to minimum standards or to return life to normal or improved
levels
Mitigation: Actions that can be taken to eliminate or reduce the degree of long term
risk.
211 Helpline Center
The 211 Helpline Center, which receives funds from Miner County to enable their telephone service in our area, is a vital service that connects millions of people to help every year. All calls are confidential and handled by highly trained service professionals in the caller’s area. They are accessible 24/7/365 in 180 languages to provide help with essential needs (food, clothing, shelter), crisis situations (grieving the loss of a loved one or thoughts of suicide), disaster assistance (flooding or tornado damage), and more. In the event of an emergency, always dial 911, but for nonemergent situations, 211 is here to help! If you are in need, we encourage you to take advantage of this valuable resource! Just dial 211 from a phone in a participating area (like Miner County), text your zip code to 898211, or email help@helplinecenter.org. Please help spread the word-you never know who you could help!