City of Chicago, IL
09/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/23/2025 14:30
The City of Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) Celebrates 30 Years of Providing Safety and Security for Chicago's Residents and Visitors
CHICAGO: On September 25, 2025, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) will celebrate 30 years providing safety and security for Chicago's residents and visitors through the 9-1-1 Operations floor, 3-1-1 City Services, Office of Emergency Management and the Traffic Management Authority. OEMC Historic Photos (additional photos available by request)
For 30 years, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications has evolved alongside the City of Chicago to meet the challenges of keeping Chicago's residents, visitors, and First Responders safe," said Frank Velez, OEMC Executive Director. "As a former member of the Chicago Fire Department, I know firsthand the extraordinary work the men and women of OEMC perform 24/7, 365 days a year."
To mark the occasion on Thursday, September 25, OEMC and the Mayor's Office for Community Safety will host a 24-hour First Responders cookout for Chicago police officers, Chicago firefighters, 9-1-1 Call Takers and Dispatchers, Emergency Managers, 3-1-1 operators, and traffic management.
In 1995, the Chicago Office of Emergency Communications (OEMC) was created as a state-of-the-art communications facility to consolidate the City's Police and Fire 9-1-1 operations and to improve service and response time by the city's public safety departments. OEMC's public safety role has evolved over 30 years in providing planning and coordination for everything from large-scale special events to weather-related emergencies affecting public safety and homeland security related responsibilities for the last 30 years.
In 2025, OEMC is still focusing on the number one priority-protecting the lives and property of the City of Chicago. Building on the progress and lessons learned during actual events and public safety exercises, OEMC has utilized that knowledge to coordinate the City of Chicago's response to public safety around the 2024 DNC, the New Arrivals Mission, countless special events, the Chicago Police Departments Vehicular Hijacking Task Force, the COVID-19 Pandemic, Civil Unrest, flooding, tornados, extreme heat and cold, blizzards and other emergencies.
Throughout September OEMC has provided preparedness tips for Preparedness Month, how to report suspicious activity to 9-1-1, OEMC's public safety campaign with Marvel's Ironheart and much more.
OEMC continues to push our number one message to residents: If you See Something, Say Something. OEMC reminds the public to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity by calling 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.
Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications
Major Event Timeline: 1995-2025
1995
· William Corbett, Executive Director (September 1995 - March 1997)
· September 25,1995 the Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) was created
· The OEC combined the City's delivery of Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services 911 resources under one roof.
1996
· Democratic National Convention at the United Center
· Chicago Bulls NBA Title Celebration in Grant Park
· July 17 - Heavy rainfall/flash flooding on west side of Chicago - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
1997
· Glen Funk, Executive Director (March 1997 - August 1999)
· Chicago Bulls NBA Title Celebration in Grant Park
· Aug 16 Widespread Flooding across Chicago - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
1998
· Chicago Bulls NBA Title Celebration in Grant Park - Michael Jordan's final championship as a member of the Chicago Bulls.
· Chicago Fire began team play in 1998 and won the MLS Cup as well as the U.S. Open Cup (the "double")
1999
· Greg Bishop, Executive Director (August 1999 - May 2001)
· Preparations for Y2K
· A Blizzard hitting the Midwest dropped 21.6" of snow on Chicago - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
· Power outage on August 12 in the Loop; parts of the West Loop and South Loop. This was after an outage that July during a heatwave.
2001
· Cortez Trotter, Executive Director (August 2001 - April 2004)
· 9/11/2001 Central Business District evacuated.
· After September 11, 2001 the OEC began coordinating the City's planning for issues relating to Homeland Security. The OEC took on the responsibilities of the Fire Departments Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Services and added a new division, the Office of Emergency Management. This gave the Executive Director the authority to direct the activities of city agencies, Fire and Police in emergency situations.
· Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC)
2004
· Ron Huberman, Executive Director (April 2004 - March 2005)
· November 16, Mayor Daley unveiled the Operations Center (OC) to aid in communication and coordination of city agencies for major events and emergencies.
· Traffic Management Authority was created
· On July 23, the Chicago's emergency call center power outage knocked everything offline, possibly weather related. Calls were switched to the 3-1-1 Center, which serves as a backup for 911 operations.
· The Operations Center opened in December 2004
2005
· Andrew Velasquez, Executive Director (March 2005 - March 2007)
· Chicago White Sox World Series Parade
· Lollapalooza moved into Grant Park, July 23-25
· Hurricane Katrina evacuation efforts take place in Chicago
2006
· Chicago created the Public Safety Consortium - This united the OEMC with the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department and all City agencies to plan and coordinate activities for large scale City sponsored and authorized events, and responses to emergency situations.
· On January 30, Mayor Daley unveiled the City Incident Center (CIC) to integrate OEMC's Homeland Security strategies with traffic services, towing, Department of Streets and Sanitation operations and Department of Water Management dispatch services
· Traffic Management Authority (TMA) added Loop Traffic.
2007
· Antonio Ruiz, Executive Director (June 2007 - March 2008)
· Super Bowl snowstorm - Chicago Bears v. Indianapolis Colts
· On October 31 the city's camera network, Operation Virtual Shield, was expanded and enhanced with additional cameras and advanced technology
· May 1 Immigration March
· Aug 23 - Severe thunderstorms/wind damage in Lakeview/Wrigleyville Neighborhood - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
· October World Boxing Championship
2008
· Ray Orozco, Executive Director (July 2008 - February 2010)
· Election Night Celebration in Grant Park for President Barack Obama
· Sept 13 Flood in Albany Park Neighborhood - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
· Traffic Management Authority (TMA) added O'Hare and Midway Airports
2010
· Jose Santiago, Executive Director (March 2010 - June 2011)
· US Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary Janet Napolitano visited OEMC
· Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship Parade (June)
2011
· Gary Schenkel, Executive Director (June 2011 - June 2016)
· February 1 Blizzard - "Snowmageddon"
· PCOII Marcea Adkins passed away - Now there is an award given each year to a deserving OEMC employee
· Beginning of Occupy Chicago protests
2012
· The renovation of the 9-1-1 operations floor and the introduction of the Major Incident Console was completed
· NATO Summit
· A collaborative group consisting of City public safety officials and critical private
· sector entities were created: the Chicago Public/Private Task Force.
2013
· April 16 Flood on the West Side and other areas in the City - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
· Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship Parade (June)
2014
· Super Bowl Blizzard
2015
· Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup Championship Parade (June)
2016
· Alicia Tate Nadeau, Executive Director (July 2016 - January 2019)
· Chicago Cubs World Series Celebration (November)
2017
· Hurricane Maria evacuation efforts take place in Chicago
2019
· Rich Guidice, Executive Director (March 2019 - May 2023)
2020
· Feb 16 - NBA All Star Game
· COVID 19 Response - March 14, 2020, Shutdown
· Civil Unrest
· EF1 Tornado hit the North Side of Chicago
2021
· Chicago Sky WNBA 2021 Champions. Parade and rally in Millennium Park was held on October 19.
2022
· New Arrivals Mission Begins - the first bus from Texas dropped off migrants at Union Station on 8/31/22
· Introduction to OEMC collaboration with City Colleges of Chicago was launched with first class at Malcolm X College
2023
· New Arrivals Mission continues - Mayor Lightfoot issued an emergency declaration in May. The final bus from Texas to drop off within the City of Chicago was on 12/25/23.
· Jose Tirado, Executive Director (May 2023 - February 2025)
· Inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Race (July 1-2)
· July 2 Flood on the West Side and other areas in the city - Presidential Disaster Declaration - FEMA Response
· Department of Homeland Security Conference in Chicago (July)
· September Flood - Presidential Disaster Declaration- FEMA Response
2024
· Democratic National Convention (August 19-22)
· New Arrivals Mission - ended on December 31, 2024
· Tornadoes and Severe Storms - Presidential Disaster Declaration- FEMA Response
2025
· Frank Velez, current Executive Director (February 2025)
· Final NASCAR Chicago Street Race (July 5-6)
· July and August Flooding - Disaster Declaration and coordinated response with IEMA, CCEMRS, FEMA and SBA is ongoing
OEMC Today: 20,000 calls per day to 9-1-1 Emergency Operations and 3-1-1 City Services. 2 Public Safety Situational Awareness calls are held each day with city departments, partner agencies and utility partners from the Operations Center (OC).
Executive Directors
· William Corbett (September 1995 - March 1997)
· Glen Funk (March 1997 - August 1999)
· Greg Bishop (August 1999 - May 2001)
· Cortez Trotter (August 2001 - April 2004)
· Ron Huberman (April 2004 - March 2005)
· Andrew Valesquez (March 2005 - March 2007)
· Antonio Ruiz (June 2007 - March 2008)
· Ray Orozco (July 2008 - February 2010)
· Jose Santiago (March 2010 - June 2011)
· Gary Schenkel (June 2011 - June 2016)
· Alicia Tate Nadeau (July 2016 - January 2019)
· Rich Guidice (March 2019 - May 2023)
· Jose Tirado (May 2023 - February 2025)
· Frank Velez (February 2025 - )
City of Chicago, IL published this content on September 23, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 23, 2025 at 20:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]