The Tyler County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is a local county government organization staffed by the Emergency Manager and funded primarily by the Tyler County Commission and the Department of Homeland Security. OEM is very active throughout the region sharing knowledge, training and exercising with other OEM groups, networking with professionals in related fields and preparing for emergency events to ensure the highest level of readiness for the citizens of Tyler County.

Our Mission

The mission of the Tyler County Office of Emergency Management is to develop and maintain emergency plans and coordinate the use of County, State and Federal resources to prepare, respond, recover and mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters on the citizens of Tyler County.

Our Team

Tyler County OEM has followed the FEMA Whole Community approach to emergency management. This team has been developed to include volunteers, government and non-profit agencies, industry and businesses. Tyler OEM is connected to nearly every county in WV through our friendship with all the other emergency management agencies.

Search and Rescue

The volunteer team is primarily a Search and Rescue (SAR) team that started 30 years ago when the Shiloh Saddle Club joined forces with the Tyler County Office of Emergency Services (now OEM) to become the first equestrian SAR team in the state. These volunteers have respond to many types of natural and man-made emergencies including floods, derechos, transportation and industrial disasters. It is a very large volunteer team with members coming from several counties and states. The group includes medical professionals, meteorologists, college professors, information technologists, and hardworking folks from all walks of life. These fine people have one thing in common; they all want to help others!

State & Federal Agencies

Tyler OEM works closely with state and federal government agencies such as FEMA, WV Dept. of Homeland Security, Senator Manchin's Office, WV State Administrative Agency, National Weather Service, WV Department of Corrections, WV DOH, WV DEP, EPA. Local government partners include Wetzel/Tyler Health Department, Sistersville Hospital and Tyler County Schools.

Non-Governmental Partners

Non-governmental partners include the Family Resource Network, Volunteer WV, Journey Hospice, Adam’s House, faith based and ministerial organizations, Salvation Army, Appalachian Outreach, Wood County Emergency Communications, WV VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), and WV Northern Community College.

Business Partners

Business partners include AA Supply LLC, Ace Hardware, Boggs Pizza, Myers Funeral Home, REPS Inc., Tyler Star News, Wells Inn/The Innformer, Witschey's and Galaxy Supermarkets. Tyler County OEM also works closely with the well industry and the local chemical industry.

Our Training

Search And Rescue (SAR) volunteers are offered training on a regular basis. Topics include search management, map reading, land navigation, lost person behavior, survival, clue detection, crime scene preservation, communications, drone operations, man tracking, digital mapping, low angle rope rescue and basic medical skills just to name a few. The SAR team has many canine and handlers that train in canine behavior, tracking, trailing, air scent and finding human remains on land and under water. The handlers are also trained in the topics mentioned above.

This training prepares volunteers not only for search and rescue but most of these skills are used for disaster and emergency response and recovery.

Our Tools

These volunteers are not sent into emergency situations without proper equipment, supplies and technology. OEM is constantly building and updating resources that can be quickly deployed to anywhere in WV and surrounding states.

Resources Include:

  • Fully Equipped Mobile Command Center
  • Mobile Field Office
  • satellite communications
  • inflatable jet boat
  • flat bottom rescue boat
  • river rescue boat with state of the art electronics
  • variety of UVF and VHF radios
  • ham/amateur radio equipment
  • special weather equipment
  • mobile cascade air supply trailer
  • mass casualty trailer
  • GPS resource tracking system
  • drones with FLIR (heat sensing)
  • handheld FLIR (heat sensing) units
  • portable shelters
  • shelter supplies
  • fork trucks
  • emergency medical supplies for responders
  • canine and equine
  • large animal rescue equipment
  • canine training equipment
  • snowmobile
  • spill response trailer