About the Oklahoma Emergency Management Association
Supporting Emergency Managers Across Every Region of Oklahoma
Our Mission
The Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (OEMA) is the statewide professional organization for emergency managers in Oklahoma. Our mission is to advance the science and practice of emergency management by connecting professionals, facilitating education, and advocating for resources that strengthen Oklahoma's preparedness and resilience at every level of government and in the private sector.
OEMA believes that strong local emergency management is the foundation of a resilient state. By supporting the men and women who serve as emergency managers in Oklahoma's counties and municipalities, we help ensure that every community — from the state's largest cities to its most rural counties — has the professional expertise needed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and emergencies.
Organization & Leadership
OEMA is governed by an elected board of directors that includes a president, vice presidents representing each geographic region, and at-large members from across the state. Board elections are held at the annual conference, ensuring that leadership reflects the priorities of the full membership.
Regional chapters operate as the organizational backbone of the association. Each region holds its own board meetings and membership events, maintains agendas and minutes for transparency, and coordinates training and preparedness activities tailored to local needs. Current active regional organizations include the Northwest Oklahoma Emergency Management (NWOEM) and the Southeast Oklahoma Emergency Management (SEOEM).
Northwest OEM
Serves the 16 counties of Northwest Oklahoma. Board leadership includes a vice president and alternate vice president elected by regional members.
Visit Northwest OEM →Southeast OEM
Serves the 16 counties of Southeast Oklahoma with dedicated regional leadership and active member participation.
Visit Southeast OEM →Annual Conference
The OEMA Annual Conference is the premier emergency management event in Oklahoma. Held each year at a major venue, the conference brings together hundreds of emergency management professionals from local, state, and federal government, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
Conference programming includes keynote speakers, general sessions covering FEMA program updates and emerging best practices, breakout sessions on specialized topics, a vendor exhibit hall, and the annual OEMA business meeting where elections are held and major decisions are made. The 2022 Conference was held at the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma.
View the 2022 Conference Details →
Membership
OEMA offers both individual and corporate memberships. Individual memberships are open to emergency management professionals at all career stages, from newly appointed county emergency managers to senior state agency directors. Corporate memberships are available for organizations in the private sector that support or rely on emergency management capabilities.
Members receive full participation rights in regional and statewide activities, access to association resources, eligibility to vote in board elections, and the professional network of Oklahoma's emergency management community.
Partnership with State & Federal Partners
OEMA works closely with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) and maintains regular coordination with FEMA Region 6. This partnership ensures that OEMA members receive timely updates on federal programs, grant cycles, policy changes, and training opportunities.
The association also collaborates with the National Weather Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and a wide range of other state and federal agencies to advance comprehensive emergency management practice across Oklahoma.
Oklahoma SitMap
OEMA promotes use of the Oklahoma SitMap, an interactive ArcGIS-based operations dashboard that provides real-time situational awareness of current incidents, resource deployments, and emergency management activities across the state. This tool supports coordinated response and recovery operations for emergency managers at all levels.
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Frequently Asked Questions About OEMA
Common questions and answers about this topic.
The Oklahoma Emergency Management Association was established to serve as the primary professional organization for emergency managers across Oklahoma. Its mission is to support, advance, and represent emergency management practitioners at every level — from county emergency managers to state agency directors and private sector continuity professionals.
OEMA facilitates knowledge sharing, professional development, and policy advocacy to ensure Oklahoma's emergency management community has the tools, training, and connections needed to protect communities statewide.
OEMA operates through a statewide board of directors elected by the membership, with regional vice presidents representing each of Oklahoma's geographic regions. Regional chapters — including the Northwest OEM and Southeast OEM — hold their own meetings and activities while coordinating with the statewide association.
The board meets regularly to address association business, coordinate with state and federal partners, and set priorities for the membership. Elections are held at the annual conference.
For individual members, OEMA provides access to professional networking opportunities, regional and statewide training events, the annual conference, and a forum for sharing best practices across Oklahoma's diverse jurisdictions.
Members also benefit from OEMA's advocacy efforts at the state level, which work to secure adequate funding, training resources, and legislative support for local emergency management programs.
OEMA maintains a close working relationship with the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (ODEMHS) and coordinates regularly with FEMA Region 6. These partnerships ensure that local emergency managers receive timely updates on federal programs, grant opportunities, and policy changes.
State agency leadership participates in OEMA conferences and board discussions, creating a direct channel between grassroots emergency management practice and statewide policy.
The OEMA website is the primary source for conference information, regional meeting schedules, and training announcements. The 2022 OEMA Conference page provides a detailed agenda and registration information for the annual conference in Durant, Oklahoma.
Regional chapters also host their own workshops and meetings throughout the year. Contact your regional vice president or check regional pages for local event schedules.