Guilford County Emergency Management consists of a Coordinator and two Assistant Coordinators who management the county-wide program as a team.

As professional emergency managers, the Guilford County Emergency Management Staff supports the following position statement on Emergency Management:

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
DEFINITION, VISION, MISSION, PRINCIPLES

Definition
Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters.

Vision
Emergency management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters.

Mission 
Emergency management protects communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other man-made disasters.

Principles
Emergency management must be:

1. Comprehensive – emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards, all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.
2. Progressive – emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventive and preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.
3. Risk-driven – emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazard identification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.
4. Integrated – emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of government and all elements of a community.
5. Collaborative – emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincere relationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate a team atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.
6. Coordinated – emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common purpose.
7. Flexible – emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solving disaster challenges. 
8. Professional – emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approach based on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship and continuous improvement.

Guilford County Emergency Management was formed in July of 2003 with the initial goal of coordinating and supporting county-wide preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.  The Emergency Management Division has worked to build a collaborative team in Guilford County that is inclusive of all agencies in Guilford County that have designated roles during emeregencies and disasters.