Things are changing for our department! On Oct. 19-21, a room divider was installed in the Training Center to allow for presentations to continue on the classroom side, while the consoles are in use for call-taking and dispatch.

The Richmond City Council is expected to approve the official addition of the Office of Emergency Management and the name change to the Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response (DECPR) at its meeting on Nov. 14.

The Office of Emergency Management, Director Stephen Willoughby and some other

DEC celebrates Halloween

After about four years of establishing contacts and explaining the need, DEC was able to present 911 education to Richmond Public Schools students. Karen Gill taught 911 education to 169 students in the Richmond Virtual Academy on Oct. 18-20 in three separate virtual sessions for different grade levels. It is hoped that we will be able to continue teaching other classes, including those in person, and to add more emergency management training as well.

For the younger students, we now have large Cell Phone Sally storybooks to read to kids, in addition to the Cell Phone Sally video. Other resources we are using include other videos and interactive instruction through the Nearpod app.

DEC, OEM outreach to

the Richmond community

DEC provided 911 and emergency information and giveaways at the Touch-A-Truck event on Oct. 15, 9th District Meeting on Oct. 20, Police Trunk-or-Treat on Oct. 27 and the Sheriff's Office Trunk-or-Treat on Oct. 31. Thanks to everyone who helped!

Help needed at upcoming events

See more community outreach photos