Homeland Security and Emergency Management

The Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) is a division under the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. It was founded in 1951 as the Minnesota Department of Civil Defense, the name was changed after the inception of the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2002. The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management helps Minnesotans prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters and works to keep Minnesota secure from acts of terrorism.[1] As of 2016, the division has 75 full time employees.

Homeland Security and Emergency Management
AbbreviationHSEM
Agency overview
Formed1951
Employees75
Annual budget$1.851m
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionMinnesota, U.S.
Governing bodyMinnesota Department of Public Safety
HeadquartersSaint Paul, Minnesota
Agency executive
  • Joe Kelly, Director
Website
Official Site

History

Minnesota created its Department of Civil Defense in 1951 when C. Elmer Anderson was Minnesota's governor and color television was introduced. Today the division is called Homeland Security and Emergency Management. Since its inception, the way things are done has changed dramatically, but keeping Minnesota ready for disasters whether they are caused by humans or mother nature has remained consistent. In the past 10 years our country has lived through the attacks of September 11, and the force of Hurricane Katrina. Closer to home, Minnesota has experienced 12 presidentially declared major disasters and four emergency declarations including the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in downtown Minneapolis.

The financial impact of disasters on communities and individuals can be devastating. HSEM brings in millions of dollars in response, recovery, mitigation and education funding every year.

Staff

Administration
  • Director: Joe Kelly (2015-)
  • Deputy Director: Kevin Reed

Branch Directors
  • Administration and Grants: Jon Huspek
  • Preparedness: Kevin Leuer
  • Organizational Development: Cathy Clark
  • Recovery and Mitigation: John Moore
  • Operations: Joseph Neuberger
  • School Safety: Randy Johnson

Regional Program Coordinators

HSEM has six regional program staff assigned throughout the State to assist County and local jurisdictions.[2]

  1. (SE) Mike Peterson
  2. (NE) Roy Holmes
  3. (NW) Heather Winkleblack
  4. (WC) Jeanna Sommers
  5. (SW) Mark Marcy
  6. (Metro) Gary Peterson

HSEM Regions

The Minnesota Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is divided into six regions with varying characteristics listed below. Population Estimates are based off the 2010 United States Census.

Region Population Area Counties Tribes City of the First Class
1 (Southeast) 652,818 9,832 Sq. Miles 16 2 Communities Rochester
2 (Northeast) 463,281 27,683 Sq. Miles 11 5 Nations Duluth
3 (Northwest) 260,617 18,461 Sq. Miles 14 3 Nations None
4 (West-Central) 622,623 14,811 Sq. Miles 18 1 Nation None
5 (Southwest) 275,298 11,923 Sq. Miles 18 2 Communities None
6 (Metro) 4,029,732 4,322 Sq. Miles 10 None Minneapolis, Saint Paul

References
  1. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/about/Pages/default.aspx
  2. https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/about/Pages/regions.aspx
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