The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's Emergency Planning Office is responsible for the safety, health and welfare and educational needs of the Mohawk people during an emergency or disaster situation that we may encounter. Emergencies are defined as situations or the threat of impending situations abnormally affecting the property, health, safety and welfare of a community. When emergencies occur a controlled and coordinated response by proper authorities must be established to safeguard the citizens and return the community back to functional status as quickly as possible. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Emergency Planning Office is the lead agency to coordinate all responding units such as the Police, Fire, Ambulance and Hazardous Materials Teams in any emergency or disaster situation. Also responsible to coordinate with outside agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness, State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), American Red Cross, US Coast Guard, US Customs and other jurisdictional Emergency Planning Offices such as Franklin County, St. Lawrence County and the City of Cornwall. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council and the Emergency Planning Office is committed to providing the highest level of preparedness within the Territory of Akwesasne in order to mitigate the effects of emergencies and disasters on life and property. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Emergency Planning Office is responsible for the overall comprehensive emergency management planning in the event of man-made and natural disasters, radiological and defense emergencies. The Emergency Planning Office is responsible for the following: coordinates and implements plans of action for response and recovery for small and large scale disasters, implementation of the shelter, home preparedness and other measures necessary for public safety, conducts special seminars and workshops for Tribal employees to guide and assist the public in emergency or disastrous situations.