Plan

The Charlotte Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) provides grants to address the unique planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high-density urban areas. The initiative helps these areas build enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism.

This initiative supports ten counties in our region: Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Lancaster, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly, Union, and York. We are one of thirty-one urban areas funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Since 2004, our region has received more than $70 million to aid in preventing terrorism and other catastrophic events, preparing the country for threats and hazards that pose the most significant risk to U.S. security.

The partnership is at the core of our work. We strive to serve the Charlotte and Mecklenburg County residents and support our neighbors in their efforts to protect and serve their communities.

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) aims to provide a systematic, coordinated, and effective response to safeguard Mecklenburg County residents, businesses, and visitors' health, safety, welfare, and property during a disaster or emergency.

The EOP is a multidisciplinary plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for managing significant emergencies and disasters within the county. The plan results from the collaborative efforts among all seven jurisdictions in Mecklenburg County, their subsequent operational departments, and private partners assigned emergency roles and responsibilities for managing emergency or disaster incidents.

The plan prioritizes saving lives, protecting property and the environment, addressing immediate needs such as rescue, medical assistance, food, and shelter, restoring essential facilities for citizens and visitors, and mitigating hazards threatening lives, property, the environment, and the economy.

The EOP is implemented when it becomes necessary to mobilize the identified resources to save lives and protect property, the environment, and the economy.

The plan includes a Letter of Agreement (LOA) signed by all jurisdictions in Mecklenburg County. This agreement commits various departments to essential preparedness activities, ensuring they are ready to fulfill their assigned emergency management responsibilities during a disaster or emergency. Additionally, the LOA requires agencies to create and maintain effective department-level Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) to guarantee they can continue their operations if their primary facility becomes unavailable.

Mitigation planning saves lives and property, speeds recovery following disasters, and expedites pre-disaster and post-disaster grant funding. It also increases our community’s resilience to flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes. Updated every five years, the Hazard Mitigation Plan is a collaborative effort engaging with the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.

These plans are designed to meet the federal regulations in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which requires all local, county, tribal, and state governments to develop a multi-hazard mitigation plan for their respective jurisdictions to be eligible to receive specific hazard mitigation and public assistance funds. The State of North Carolina approved the final draft plans and adopted by all eight councils/commissions.

The 2025 update is in progress. More information about how you can be part of the process can be reviewed at mecklenburghmp.com

2020 Plan: 2020 Mecklenburg County MJHMP(PDF, 46MB)

Our office oversees the Fixed Nuclear Facility (FNF) Emergency Preparedness Program for the two nuclear facilities near Mecklenburg County, McGuire Nuclear Station and Catawba Nuclear Station. We collaborate closely with Duke Energy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to ensure the highest level of emergency preparedness at both the Catawba Nuclear Power Plant (situated on Lake Wylie in South Carolina) and the McGuire Nuclear Power Plant (located on Lake Norman in North Carolina).

Each year, in collaboration with Duke Energy and various community partners, we enhance our community's readiness to respond to a nuclear incident within our area. These full-scale drills are designed to evaluate different scenarios and essential functions related to the Catawba and McGuire Nuclear Power Plants. The drills may include mass care operations such as reception center and shelter management, waterway clearance, and emergency worker decontamination.

Duke Energy provides educational materials and information specifically for residents within the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), the 10-mile radius surrounding each nuclear facility. However, these resources are available to all community residents.

Preparedness information includes:

Duke Energy Nuclear Power Plant Safety and Security

Duke Energy Nuclear Power Plant Preparedness (Catawba)

Duke Energy Nuclear Power Plant Preparedness (McGuire)

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) and the Charlotte-Fire Department Special Operations Division (CFD-SOC) collaborate to support the Mecklenburg County hazardous materials (HazMat) program.

The hazardous materials (HazMat) coordinator is a designated Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) Battalion Chief. The coordinator works closely with the three (3) hazardous materials teams assigned to the CFD and operating out of CFD Stations 13, 32, and 34.

These teams respond to all hazardous materials incidents in Charlotte. In addition to serving Charlotte, the HazMat teams support the surrounding region and are available for North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) assigned missions as North Carolina Regional Response Team Seven (NC-RRT7).

The HazMat Coordinator also manages the Tier II program for Mecklenburg County. This federal program requires all businesses, including governmental and private sector facilities, to report their chemical inventories annually via the Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Form by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). This form is received by our Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), and local fire departments throughout the seven (7) jurisdictions in Mecklenburg County. Our office serves as the designated local reporting agency. You may complete Tier II reporting through the E-Plan portal.