Our Mission Statement

Our mission is simple: to protect the community we love.  We monitor severe weather, assist during natural disasters, and help keep families safe at local events.  We believe that a safe community is a connected community.  (LEMA also coordinates joint efforts between the Village of Lemont and Lemont Township to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from all natural and man-made disasters, in accordance with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act [20 ILCS 3305/].)

Core Emergency Operations

• Primary Responder Functions
  • Disaster Coordination:  Directs multi-agency command structures during crisis events.
  • Emergency Warning:  Operates local outdoor warning sirens based on communications with the National Weather Service (NWS).
  • Tactical Rescue:  Operates Lemont EMA Search and Rescue (ISARC partner).
  • Field Ops:  Conducts severe weather spotting, emergency evacuations, emergency sheltering, traffic and crowd control for community events, and emergency power/lighting.
• Supplemental Support
  • Incident Logistics:  Assists local police/fire with traffic routing and event safety.
    
  • Asset Security:  Manages perimeter details and structural safety standbys.
    
  • Inter-Agency Aid:  Coordinates mutual aid via WCMAA, S.M.A.R.T., and Southwest Council of Mayors and Managers.
    

Severe Weather:  Cooling and Warming Centers

During extreme seasonal temperatures, municipal and community facilities act as climate shelters.  Note: Extended multi-day sheltering operations are coordinated dynamically alongside the American Red Cross and Cook County Emergency Management.

Action Checklist:  Stay Informed

•  Register for Lemont Alerts:  Powered by Everbridge. Get life-saving text, call, or e-mail notifications about flash floods, road closures, and localized hazards. Sign Up on the Lemont Alerts Portal.
•  Report Nuisance Odors:  Lemont uses the multi-town Odor Alert Network (OAN) to track industrial impacts in coordination with facilities like the CITGO Lemont Refinery.  You may submit a noxious odor report immediately using the Odor Reporting Procedure on the OAN page. (Call 911 for gas leaks.)
•  Download Federal Tools:  Install the FEMA Mobile App for location-based National Weather Service alerts while traveling, other preparedness infomation, and access to federal disaster assistance.
  
•  Prepare Your Household:  Map out your family's personal shelter-in-place and evacuation timelines using standard guides at Ready.gov.
  

Get Involved:  Volunteer

LEMA is volunteer-powered. If you are 18 or older, can pass a background check, and want to train in ground search and rescue, disaster logistics, or emergency communications, apply online at the official Village Employment portal.