The Cobb County Emergency Management is responsible for coordinating all activities necessary to protect Cobb’s residents from natural, technological and manmade disasters and other emergencies that threaten the County.

EMA coordinates Emergency Management Services for the County by providing leadership, planning, education and resources to protect lives, property and the environment.

In times of emergency or disaster, CEMA coordinates the response of local agencies ensuring the most appropriate resources are dispatched to the impacted area. Through its major programs, CEMA works with local governments, volunteer organizations and the private sector throughout Cobb County to develop disaster preparedness plans and mitigation projects, and provide training and exercise activities.

CEMA has qualified for the Federal Performance Partnership Agreement, which ensures the county federal disaster assistance and individual assistance in the event of a major disaster. In addition to being eligible for federal assistance, our personal qualifications which are based on meeting state mandated training requirements enable us to receive funding from the federal government to aid in our mitigation efforts. Cobb County is committed to taking a proactive approach to the Emergency Management efforts in our community.

Cassie Mazloom is the director of Cobb EMA and reports to the Director of Public Safety. Underneath her leadership, there are the five positions that make up the department:

• Deputy Director
• (2) Senior Emergency Management Specialists
• Emergency Management Specialist
• Administrative Coordinator

• Develop and maintain all local emergency Management programs, projects, and plans required by state and federal government.
• Maintain the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for Cobb County and the Cities of Acworth, Austell, Kennesaw, Marietta, and Powder Springs.
• Provide 24-hour coordination of resources to emergencies and disasters.
• Provide 24-hour emergency coordination to multiple response agencies.
• Provide liaison with local, state and federal authorities during major emergencies and disasters.
• Develop, coordinate and conduct emergency management training/exercise programs.
• Develop and distribute emergency management presentations, brochures, pamphlets, public service announcements and other relevant information for civic organizations, businesses, and the public.

Cobb EMA performs a monthly siren test every first Wednesday of the month at noon, unless weather conditions are unfavorable. If that is the case, then a second attempt will occur on the following Thursday at noon. A silent test will be conducted should inclement weather occur on both days.

Cobb’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is in a convenient location and provides a single, recognizable focal point for disaster management. The EOC carries out seven basic functions: startup or activation, administration and event documentation, information management, resource management, disaster analysis, decision making, and recovery.

The Cobb County Emergency Operations Center:

• Handles emergencies that are too large to be controlled from an on-site command post.
• Provides inter-agency coordination and executive decision making for managing disaster response and recovery.
• Assures that communication efforts are quick and effective with responding forces, the general public, the media, and others.
• Ensures the integrity of operations and keeps unauthorized persons from entering the facility with the assistance of security personnel and system.