Cherry Hill Police Department, New Jersey

Emergency Management

Emergency Management is both an agency and a philosophy. Emergency management is the discipline and profession of applying science, technology, planning and management to deal with extreme events that can injure or kill large numbers of people, do extensive damage to property, and disrupt community life.

The Township Office of Emergency Management is staffed fulltime by a police officer and supplemented during emergencies by additional public safety personnel and volunteers. The Township Emergency Management Coordinator is OFC David Washick. The Deputy Coordinators are P/O Kevin Seta and Dr. Hank Z. Cutler. The office phone number is 432-8836. The CERT phone number is 856-432-8837.

There are four phases to emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

Mitigation: Actions taken to eliminate or reduce the degree of long-term risk to human life and property form natural and technological hazards.
Preparedness: Actions taken in advance of an emergency to develop operational capabilities and facilitate an effective response.
Response: Actions taken immediately before, during, or directly after an emergency occurs, to save lives, minimize damage to property and enhance the effectiveness of recovery.
Recovery: Activity to return vital life support systems to minimal operating standards and long-term activity designed to return life to normal.