The Linn County Sheriff’s Office leads the County’s Emergency Management Program. Our Emergency Manager, Ric Lentz, works with partners across the community to help plan, train, and prepare for emergencies. This includes making sure Linn County is ready to respond to disasters, recover afterward, and reduce future risks.
When major emergencies happen, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated at the Sheriff’s Office in Albany. The EOC brings together key agencies and resources to one place to coordinate the response and keep the community safe.
We know that emergencies and disasters can happen at any time. Wildfires, Earthquakes, Ice Storms, Floods, and Power Outages are just some of the events that can affect Linn County. That’s why it’s so important for all of us to be prepared both as individuals and as a community.
Being personally prepared for disasters can make a big difference in protecting you and your family when emergencies happen. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office offers a volunteer program that helps residents get ready for disasters. Volunteers also play a vital role in supporting the County’s Emergency Preparedness efforts and assisting with community disaster response.
We encourage all Linn County residents to sign up for the Linn-Benton Alert System to stay informed during emergencies. This system sends important notifications by phone call, text, or email to keep you updated when it matters most. Signing up is quick and easy. To sign up, simply visit:
https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085613276#/signup
For further information, please contact Meghan Becker (Assistant Emergency Manager) 541-812-2272
The Linn County Emergency Operations Plan is also now online!
How You Can Help
Below are some of the opportunities for citizens to be a part of this volunteer community service.
Ready: Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.
Being self-reliant in a disaster or emergency will relieve some of the stress we all may experience and will take some of the load off emergency personnel. Ready.gov is a great resource for tools, recommendations and more to help you and your family stay safe. Here you can make a plan for you and your family. For more ways to get involved, you can look here. Ready kids offers a resource for you and your children to be even more prepared for an emergency or a disaster. Resources for businesses are available here.
National Citizen Corps programs are available to support community members, organizations, agencies, law enforcement, and emergency personnel. Citizen Corps programs include VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service), MRC (Medical Reserve Corps), Neighborhood Watch, and CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams). Visit the Citizen Corps website or contact the Sheriff’s Office for information about these volunteer programs.