Emergency Operations Plan & Task Organization

A summary of the Marion County Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and the EMA task organization. The EOP is the County's all-hazards framework for preparing, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. This page describes authorities, the concept of operations, activation levels, ESF assignments, and the staffing structure that carries them out.

1. Purpose & Scope

The Marion County EOP establishes the policies, organization, and procedures used by County government and partner agencies to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters affecting Marion County, Illinois. It is an all-hazards plan covering natural events (severe weather, tornado, flood, winter storm, drought, wildland fire), technological hazards (hazmat release, pipeline failure, utility interruption, cyber incident), and human-caused incidents (mass casualty, civil unrest, terrorism).

The plan applies to all incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas within Marion County (Salem, Centralia, Sandoval, Patoka, Odin, Kinmundy, Iuka, Alma, Wamac, Junction City, Kell, Walnut Hill, Vernon) and to County departments, fire protection districts, EMS providers, hospitals, schools, utilities, and mutual-aid partners that operate within the County.

Objectives

• Save lives, protect property, and minimize the impact of emergencies on Marion County residents and infrastructure.
• Provide a unified command-and-control structure compatible with NIMS / ICS for any size incident.
• Coordinate response with adjacent counties, IEMA, FEMA Region V, and federal partners.
• Sustain critical government services during and after an incident.
• Support an orderly transition from response to recovery.

2. Authorities & References

The Marion County EOP is developed and maintained under the following statutory authorities:

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act (20 ILCS 3305) — establishes county EMAs, EMA Coordinator role, and accreditation requirements.
• Illinois Emergency Operations Plan — the State plan into which county EOPs nest.
• Marion County Ordinance creating the Marion County Emergency Management Agency — local enabling authority. VERIFY ORD #
• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 USC 5121 et seq.) — federal disaster assistance.
• National Response Framework and National Incident Management System (NIMS) — federal doctrine for incident management.
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) — NIMS adoption.
• Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA / SARA Title III) — LEPC authority for hazmat planning.
• Illinois Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act — governance of EMA Sub-Committee meetings and records.

3. Hazard Analysis Summary

Marion County faces a recurring set of hazards driven by its geography, climate, and infrastructure. The summary below is grounded in the County's Historical Data and Risk Reports compiled by Brooke Frederick (PDF source →) and forms the planning baseline for the EOP. The full Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is maintained as an annex.

Federal Disaster Declarations — Marion County

Six federally-declared disasters have impacted Marion County since 1990:

• COVID-19 pandemic — declared 2020-01-20
• Tornado — 2022-04-21
• Severe storms and flooding — 2011-04-19
• Severe winter storm and snowstorm — 2011-01-31
• Severe storm — 1996-04-18
• Severe storm — 1990-05-15

Primary natural hazards

• Tornadoes. Approximately 32 tornadoes have touched down in Marion County between 1922 and 2026 — 7 EF0, 19 EF1, 5 EF2, and 1 EF3. Highest concentrations occurred 1956–1960 and 1973–1976. The most recent federally-declared tornado event was 2022-04-21. Detailed track data on file with the National Weather Service.
• Severe thunderstorms. Marion County sits in the central Illinois severe-weather corridor. As of the 2026 baseline, the County recorded its 27th wettest March on record over the past 132 years (+1.55 inches above normal). Wind-related risk is currently rated minor, but severe-weather frequency is increasing year over year.
• Flooding. The County has logged 34 flood-related events since 1996, including 31 flash flood events resulting in 5 fatalities and total reported property damage of $127,000. The stream network (Skillet Fork, Crooked Creek, East Fork Kaskaskia tributaries) produces both flash and riverine flooding. The County is mapped on FEMA NFHL effective 2011-11-16 across 12 panels covering Salem, Centralia, Sandoval, Patoka, Odin, Kinmundy, Iuka, and Alma.
• Severe winter weather. The 24-hour snowfall record stands at 19.7 inches on 1971-04-06. Recent winter weather events have included polar vortex intrusions, ice storms, and significant snowfall — creating transportation, power, and shelter demands. The 2011-01-31 winter storm was federally declared.
• Drought and extreme heat. 2026 is currently the 39th driest year-to-date over the past 132 years. Multi-year drought cycles affect agricultural producers and rural water systems.
• Wildland fire. Approximately 10,954 properties (38% of the county) are at risk of wildfire over the next 30 years; the County is rated at moderate wildfire risk despite no historical record of wildfire events. Stubble burning and rural grassland fires occur. NIFC perimeter feeds are monitored for IL and adjacent states.

Primary technological hazards

• Patoka petroleum hub. Marion County hosts terminals for Phillips 66, Energy Transfer (LP), Marathon Pipe Line LLC, and Enterprise Products Partners. Patoka is one of the highest-volume crude / NGL pipeline crossroads in the central United States. Pipeline release is the County's highest-consequence technological hazard.
• Rail. Canadian National (CN) mainline through Centralia and a CN segment through Salem carry hazmat traffic. Historical incidents include the Tonti train wreck (1971) and the Iuka train derailment (1972).
• Highway hazmat. US-50, IL-37, and I-57 (just west) move hazmat through and around the County. Varied transportation accidents along the interstate involving semi-trucks carrying harmful chemicals are a recurring threat.
• Fixed facility hazmat. SARA Tier II reporters within the County. LEPC ROSTER
• Utility interruption. Ameren Illinois electric and natural gas; municipal water in Salem and Centralia.
• Cyber. County networks, water/wastewater SCADA, 911 ETSB systems.

Special populations and critical facilities

• Centralia Correctional Center — IDOC medium-security, ~1,000+ inmates, 9330 Shattuc Rd. Sheltering and evacuation considerations are unique.
• SSM Health Good Samaritan (Centralia) and Salem Township Hospital — primary acute-care assets.
• Schools — multiple districts across Salem, Centralia, Sandoval, Odin, Kinmundy, and rural townships.
• Long-term care, assisted living, and home-bound residents. Coordinated through IDPH Region 4 and Marion County Health Department.

Historical figures sourced from Historical Data and Risk Reports, Brooke Frederick — view source PDF. Tornado track and intensity data: National Weather Service.

4. Concept of Operations

Marion County operates under the National Incident Management System (NIMS) using Incident Command System (ICS) doctrine. Incidents are managed at the lowest competent level. As an incident grows in scale, complexity, or duration, support escalates from local jurisdiction → County EMA → adjacent counties via mutual aid (e.g., MABAS for fire, ILEAS for law enforcement) → IEMA → FEMA.

Phases

1. Prevention / Preparedness. Planning, training, exercises, hazard mitigation, public education, equipment readiness, mutual-aid agreements, LEPC engagement.
2. Response. Notification, activation, ICS organization, operations, public information, demobilization criteria.
3. Recovery. Damage assessment, debris management, individual and public assistance, restoration of services, financial reconciliation.
4. Mitigation. Post-incident analysis, hazard mitigation projects, plan updates.

Coordination structure

• Incident Command (IC) on scene runs tactical operations. The first arriving qualified responder establishes command and is relieved as appropriate.
• Marion County EOC activates to support IC with resources, information, multi-agency coordination, and policy decisions. The EOC does not supersede the IC.
• Unified Command is used when an incident crosses jurisdictional or functional lines (e.g., a Patoka pipeline release involving local fire, MCSO, IEPA, PHMSA, and the operator).
• Multi-Agency Coordination with adjacent counties, IEMA, and federal partners runs in parallel to on-scene command.

5. EOC Activation Levels

The Marion County EOC at 1999 S Marion St, Salem activates at one of three levels based on incident scope. Activation is ordered by the EMA Director, the County Board Chair, or the senior elected official available.

6. Task Organization

The Marion County EMA — OHS task organization is structured as a single department under a Director, with two Deputy Directors (Operations and Administration), three Operations Captains, a Public Information Officer, and six numbered operational Companies plus a dedicated EOC Operations group. Liaison positions tie the department into the County Health Department, hospitals, public works, utilities, finance, and long-term recovery.

Position holders below are pulled from the current MCEMA Org Chart workbook. ID numbers (1600–1699) are department-issued personnel identifiers; vehicle numbers (1660–1687) are tracked separately under §6.6. Direct cell phone numbers and personal emails are restricted to authenticated EMA personnel via Cloudflare Access on the gated Staff Directory.

6.1 Executive Leadership

6.2 Director and Deputies

6.3 Operations Captains

6.4 EOC Operations & Six Operational Companies

The EMA fields a dedicated EOC Operations group plus six numbered Companies. Companies 1 and 2 share the Traffic Incident Management mission, currently led by the Centralia Operations Captain (vacant — ID 1603). Companies 3 through 6 are led by Lieutenants assigned by function.

6.5 Liaisons & Support Roles

6.6 Rank Structure & Insignia

Marion County EMA uses a 10-grade department rank structure. Grades are reflected in the trailing two digits of the personnel ID (1600 series for command and field staff, 1690 series for finance team, 1657 for PIO).

6.7 Vehicle Numbers & Assignments

Department vehicles use 1660-series numbers. Command vehicles map directly to the position holder; community-assigned vehicles support specific townships and apparatus types.

7. Emergency Support Function (ESF) Assignments

Marion County aligns its functional response with the 15 federal ESFs. Lead and support agencies below are the planning baseline; specific assignments may shift by incident.

8. Direction, Control & Coordination

• Local emergency declaration. The Marion County Board Chair (or designee) issues a local declaration when an incident exceeds routine response capability. The declaration triggers expanded purchasing authority and is required to request State assistance under 20 ILCS 3305.
• State support. The EMA Director coordinates State requests through the IEMA 24-hour Duty Officer at 1-800-782-7860. State activation supports county requests for SEOC resources, IL National Guard, IDOT mutual aid, and IDPH coalition support.
• Federal support. Through IEMA, requests escalate to FEMA Region V (Chicago) for Stafford Act assistance, ESF support, or a Presidential Disaster Declaration.
• Mutual aid. Pre-existing agreements include MABAS (fire), ILEAS (LE), IPWMAN (public works), and IPHMAN (public health). EMA-to-EMA mutual aid runs through IEMA's IL EMAC framework.
• Continuity of Government. Lines of succession for the EMA Director, County Board Chair, and Sheriff are maintained as a separate annex. RESTRICTED

9. Communications

• Primary radio. Marion County operates on local public-safety frequencies coordinated through the 9-1-1 / ETSB. STARCOM21 (state interop) provides cross-discipline and cross-jurisdiction interoperability.
• NIMS-compliant plain language. No 10-codes during multi-agency operations.
• Public alerting. NWS LSX issues watches/warnings for ILZ070; the County uses the IPAWS Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) framework via authorized originators (IEMA / NWS); siren activation is at the discretion of Salem, Centralia, and Sandoval police/fire as configured.
• Situational awareness. Live operations, road closures, NWS alerts, and NIFC fire perimeters are posted to the Marion County EMA Operations Map at mcema.us/map.
• EOC backup comms. ARES/RACES amateur radio support for degraded communications. VERIFY ARES POC

10. Administration, Finance & Logistics

• Records. All incident-related expenditures, decisions, and personnel time are documented for state and federal reimbursement. ICS Form 214 (activity log), Form 213 (general message), and Form 218 (support vehicle inventory) are the standard recordkeeping forms.
• Cost tracking. The Finance / Admin Section Chief tracks costs against the local declaration and prepares Public Assistance documentation if a Stafford Act declaration follows.
• Procurement. Emergency procurement follows County purchasing policy with declaration-triggered exemptions. Sole-source justifications are documented contemporaneously.
• Volunteers. Spontaneous volunteers are managed through the Logistics Section in coordination with American Red Cross and Salvation Army to ensure liability coverage and credentialing.
• Donations. In-kind donations are managed through ESF-6 partners; cash donations are routed to designated 501(c)(3) partners, not to the County.

11. Plan Maintenance & Training

• Annual review. The EMA Director conducts an annual review of the EOP and presents updates to the Marion County Board EMA Sub-Committee for adoption.
• Trigger-based update. The plan is updated after any incident-driven after-action review, after major staffing changes, or after a change in adjacent-county or State plans that affects mutual aid.
• Training. EOC staff complete NIMS / ICS training appropriate to their role:
  • All EOC personnel: ICS-100, IS-700.
  • Section Chiefs and Command Staff: ICS-200, ICS-300, IS-800.
  • EMA Director / Deputy: ICS-400, EOC Skill-Set training, position-specific FEMA EMI courses.
• Exercises. Marion County participates in tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises in coordination with IEMA, neighboring counties, and HSEEP cycles.
• Public review. Non-restricted portions of the EOP are made available for public review upon request consistent with Illinois FOIA. Restricted annexes (continuity of government, security plans, hazmat target lists) are exempt.

12. Cross-References

📄 Save / Print

Use your browser's print function (Ctrl/Cmd+P) to save this EOP summary as PDF or to print a hard copy for emergency operations binders. The signed master EOP is held by the EMA Director.