Emergency Services

The purpose of the Emergency Services Department is to assist the citizens and local agencies and first responders as they prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters as well as man-made disaster or emergencies such as fuel spills and gas leaks. Perhaps the most important aspect of the EM Department is mitigation of the effects of these disasters.

But the most common function of Emergency Services is assisting in searches for lost or missing persons, which are typically the result of folks going into an unfamiliar situation unprepared.

Every Yancey County resident is encouraged to register with the Smart 911 system. Smart 911 is used to notify citizens in the event of an emergency or pass along vital public health or safety information and instructions

What Do We Do

development of the County’s plans for large-scale emergencies and disasters
educate individuals, families, businesses and community groups on emergency preparedness
conduct training and exercises to evaluate the effectiveness of plans and policies
collect analyze, and disseminate incident information
coordinate and support responses to and recovery from emergencies
obtain funding in support of preparedness and mitigation for the county

Things To Know

Natural Disasters

Have an emergency kit ready at all times. At a minimum, your kit should consist of:

3-7 days of food & water for each person in the house
Battery powered radio
Flashlight
Personal hygiene items (especially for children and babies)
Ability to charge your mobile phone
Prescribed medications
First Aid Kit
Hazmat Incidents
Fuel spills of more than 5 gal must be contained or absorbed with special materials – Call 911
If you smell gas, if possible turn off the gas at the source only if it is safe to do so – Call 911

Hiking

Don’t over estimate your abilities. Mountains are unforgiving
Tell someone exactly where you are going and when you will be back. “I’m going hiking on Mt Mitchell” is not exact. “I will be parking in the Mt Mitchell Parking lot and taking the Black Mtn Crest trail. I plan to hike to Deep Gap and come back to the car no later than 6 pm” is exact.
Stay on Marked Trails
Take a map
Take plenty of water and high energy foods
Cotton kills. Dress in layers, even in the summer
Put your mobile phone in power saving mode and limit its use
Bears don’t like you

Helene Resources

If you or someone you know is still facing challenges due to Hurricane Helene in Mitchell or Yancey counties, My Mountain Recovery is here to support your long-term recovery.

Visit MyMountainRecovery.org to:

Explore available resources for housing, food, repairs, and more

Request assistance for unmet needs related to the hurricane

Connect with local recovery partners who are ready to help

Whether you're just beginning your recovery journey or still dealing with lingering impacts, you are not alone. Help is available, and My Mountain Recovery is committed to walking with you every step of the way.