The Canadian County Department of Emergency Management has received grant funds from the FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) program The purpose of the EMPG is to assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. States have the opportunity to use EMPG funds to further strengthen their ability to support emergency management mission areas while simultaneously addressing issues of national concern as identified in the National Priorities of the National Preparedness Guidelines. Director of Emergency Management Jerry Smith is supervising the construction of an Emergency Operations Center in the courthouse which will be built using the grant money. The EOC will occupy the space formerly housing the Assessor’s Office which moved across the street to remodeled office spaces in 2008.