Kelsey Buckley, DES Coordinator

The Toole County Disaster and Emergency Services (DES) office applies the four phases of emergency management—Planning, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation—to protect our people, property, and environment. We maintain plans for both natural and man-made hazards and work closely with Emergency Medical Services, the hospital, law enforcement, fire services, the private sector, and various levels of government to ensure a rapid, coordinated response and recovery.

Every county and Native American tribe in Montana has a County (or Tribal) Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator who coordinate local response agencies to work effectively together. Training and exercises help us anticipate challenges and address them efficiently.

DES also serves as a liaison between local, state, and federal agencies, ensuring additional resources are available when needed. We work closely with the Montana State DES, part of the Department of Military Affairs.

In short, we plan and train for the worst—so it never happens.