Will County Emergency Management Agency

What Will County Emergency Management Agency does

Will County Emergency Management Agency is a county government entity headquartered at 302 North Chicago Street, Joliet, Illinois, designated as the lead agency for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery across Will County. It serves Will County residents and partner first-responder agencies through a portfolio that includes the Ready Will County mobile application (available on Apple and Android), the Smart911 Access and Functional Needs Registry, File of Life medical information cards, the county-wide outdoor warning siren system, NOAA Weather Radio broadcasting on 162.425 MHz (Channel 2), Emergency Alert System integration with four local radio stations (WJOL, WCCQ, WSSR, WRXQ), and physical warming and cooling centers activated during extreme weather events. The agency also operates a standardized Active Threat Response command and control program (an 8-hour training course covering unified command, common terminology, the Rescue Task Force concept, warm zone entry, and incident milestones) that has been adopted by 53+ police, fire/EMS, dispatch, and school agencies across the county.

Core supporting infrastructure includes a Mobile Incident Command Vehicle and the Illinois Transportable Emergency Communications System (ITECS) hosted by the agency for IEMA Region 3, with operational capacity delivered through three volunteer divisions (Field Services, Public Preparedness Group, and Search and Rescue Team) providing 24/7/365 urban and wilderness ground search and rescue capabilities. The agency is led by Director Allison J. Anderson (appointed March 2022, CEM-designated, ~17+ years of emergency management experience) with named division chiefs, and is supported by 13 full-time employees, 1 part-time employee, and approximately 50 trained volunteers.

The agency's revenue model is tax-funded government appropriation rather than commercial: services are provided free of charge to all county residents, funded through Will County's public budget (FY2026 cumulative budget approximately $2,474,024) and supported by strategic partnerships with the National Weather Service, FEMA's Emergency Management Institute, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA Region 3), local law enforcement and fire/EMS agencies, and the U.S. Small Business Administration for disaster assistance. Distribution and go-to-market operate through a community-led model: official social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn), the mobile app, the Smart911 alert system, community outreach events and safety fairs, volunteer recruitment pipelines, and direct training delivery to partner agencies. The agency holds the National Weather Service StormReady designation and operates an Access and Functional Needs Registry for residents with disabilities or functional needs.

Name

Will County Emergency Management Agency

Legal name

Will County Emergency Management Agency

Website

https://willcountyema.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Will County Emergency Management Agency is the designated county government lead for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in Will County, Illinois, serving residents and partner first-responder agencies through alert systems, the Ready Will County mobile app, standardized active threat training, and volunteer response divisions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Management Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (922160), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Management & Disaster Response (EOC, Civil Defense) (BPAIAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL), Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB), Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations & Dispatch (HLAJAGAC)

Keywords

• Emergency management services
• Disaster preparedness programs
• Public safety communications
• Search and rescue operations
• Community emergency response

Headquarters

HQ city

Joliet

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Public Budget: The agency operates on public funding allocated through Will County government budget. FY2026 cumulative budget is $2,474,024. Revenue is derived from tax dollars and government appropriations allocated for emergency management operations, disaster response, and community preparedness programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Will County Emergency Management Agency (WCEMA) is the designated lead county agency for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It delivers multi-channel emergency alerts (Smart911, outdoor warning sirens, NOAA Weather Radio, EAS), the Ready Will County mobile app, volunteer search and rescue and field services, warming/cooling centers, disaster assistance coordination with SBA, and standardized active threat response training for first responder agencies across the county.

Product overview

Will County Emergency Management Agency operates as a government emergency management organization offering a unified portfolio of products and services focused on disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The core offerings include the Ready Will County mobile app (available on Apple and Android) for emergency alerts and preparedness tools, the Smart911 Registry for access and functional needs, and the Active Threat Response Training Program for first responders. Supporting services include File of Life emergency medical information cards, Volunteer Response Divisions (Field Services, Public Preparedness Group, Search and Rescue), the Outdoor Warning Sirens System, Warming and Cooling Centers, and Disaster Assistance coordination with SBA. The agency also integrates with Smart911, NOAA Weather Radio, Emergency Alert System radio stations, and social media platforms for comprehensive emergency communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ready Will County App: Mobile application helping citizens stay safe and informed during emergencies with alerts, preparedness tips, and local resources
• Smart911
• Will County Active Threat Response Committee

Products and services

• Ready Will County Mobile App A free mobile application available on Apple and Android devices that provides emergency alerts, preparedness tips for storms and power outages, and a Resource Center with local help and services during emergencies. Targeted at Will County residents and visitors.
• Smart911 Registry A registry system integrated with Smart911 that allows Will County residents to create profiles with medical conditions, functional needs, and emergency contacts so first responders can better assist them before, during, or after an emergency.
• File of Life Free emergency medical information cards stored in red plastic pockets on refrigerators, listing vital health details such as medications, allergies, and emergency contacts for first responders to access quickly.
• Active Threat Response Training Program A standardized one-day, 8-hour command and control training course for law enforcement, fire/EMS, and dispatch agencies covering unified command positions, common terminology, and the five incident milestones for active threat and mass casualty incidents.
• Volunteer Response Divisions Three specialized volunteer divisions including the Field Services Division (mobile command vehicle, auxiliary communications, traffic control), Public Preparedness Group (community outreach, safety fairs), and Search and Rescue Team (24/7 urban and wilderness ground search and rescue).
• Disaster Assistance Program Coordination of low-interest SBA disaster loans for homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profit organizations affected by declared disasters, including physical damage loans up to $500,000 and economic injury disaster loans.
• Outdoor Warning Sirens System County-wide network of outdoor warning sirens tested on the first Tuesday of each month at 10:00 AM and activated for severe weather warnings, fire department alerts, and hazardous material spill notifications.
• Warming and Cooling Centers Physical facilities operated during extreme weather events to provide shelter, climate refuge, and emergency resources to Will County residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• StormReady designation from National Weather Service recognizing severe weather readiness
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Weather ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Weather Service for StormReady designation and NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts. The agency maintains the NOAA Weather Radio frequency 162.425 MHz (Channel 2) for Will County and utilizes NWS forecasts and warnings for emergency alert systems.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partnership through the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). The agency organized a trip to the National Fire Academy for the four-day FEMA course 'Preparing Communities for a Complex Coordinated Attack' attended by 53 participants from across Will County. FEMA Independent Study Courses (IS-100.C, IS-230.E, IS-700.B) are part of new member basic training.
• Law Enforcement Agencies (Will County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with police departments across Will County through the Active Threat Response Committee. The partnership developed a standardized command and control model for active threat/mass casualty incidents involving unified command between law enforcement and fire/EMS agencies.
• Fire/EMS Agencies (Will County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with fire departments and EMS agencies through the Active Threat Response Committee. Partnership includes Rescue Task Force concept training for warm zone entry, unified command protocols, and standardized communication procedures.
• Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) Region 3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IEMA Region 3 for deployment and operations of the Illinois Transportable Emergency Communications System (ITECS). The agency serves as the host agency for this regional emergency communications capability.
• Smart911coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Smart911 platform for the Access and Functional Needs Registry. Smart911 allows residents to create profiles with medical information, emergency contacts, and functional needs data to assist first responders during emergencies.
• Local, State, and Federal Governmental AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with local government agencies, state emergency management, and federal agencies for emergency operations, disaster response, and recovery activities. The agency develops, maintains, and implements emergency operations in cooperation with these partners.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for disaster assistance coordination. Following the August 2025 severe storms and flooding, SBA approved disaster declarations allowing homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profits in affected counties to apply for low-interest loans.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Lake County Emergency Management Agency (Illinois): Adjacent Illinois county EMA operating with the same all-hazards emergency management mission. Comparable in scope and services to Will County EMA, making it a direct regional peer for benchmarking.
• Cook County Emergency Management and Regional Security: Larger neighboring Illinois county emergency management operation with similar statutory responsibilities for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Serves as a regional comparable for scale and operating model.
• Lake County Indiana Emergency Management Agency: Cross-border county-level emergency management organization included in the August 2025 disaster declaration area alongside Will County. Operates with the same county-level emergency management mandate in a neighboring state.
• DuPage County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Neighboring Illinois county emergency management organization with comparable scope and functions. The Director of Will County EMA previously worked in DuPage County's Office of Risk and Emergency Management, making it a directly comparable regional peer.

Direct peers

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA): State-level emergency management agency that oversees county EMAs including Will County. Both share the same statutory mission of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery across their jurisdictions, with IEMA providing the regional coordination framework (Region 3) that Will County EMA participates in.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Federal counterpart operating at national scale with the same all-hazards emergency management mandate. FEMA provides training, grants (EMI/National Fire Academy), and disaster declarations that Will County EMA depends on, making it the closest broad incumbent peer in the same category.
• Motorola Solutions (Rave Mobile Safety / Smart911): Owns the Smart911 platform that Will County EMA integrates for its Access and Functional Needs Registry. As a major public safety technology incumbent, it offers comparable citizen alerting and emergency profile management capabilities at commercial scale.
• Everbridge: Commercial mass notification and critical event management platform used by government agencies for emergency alerts and resident notifications. Comparable in offering to Will County EMA's Smart911, Will County Alerts, and outdoor warning siren stack, though operating as a private vendor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WillCountyEMA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/willcountyemergencymanagementagency
• Instagraminstagram.com/willcountyema/?hl=en
• Xx.com/WillCountyEMA

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Will County Emergency Management Agency