Are you accepting new sponsors?

Currently, we are looking for two more sponsors due to rising costs in the major metro areas. However, no new sponsor can be in competition (in the market place) with one of the existing sponsors. Please reach out to Ron Prater if you would like to discuss becoming a sponsor.

Are you still accepting additional participants?

If you are one of the largest jurisdictions in the United States and interested in joining BCEM, please contact Ron Prater (rprater@bigcityem.org).

What are your goals?
The goals of Big City Emergency Managers include:

• Establish a network that can be used to share and exchange information, experiences and best practices on prevention, protection, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as it relates to emergency management and homeland security;
• Develop productive relationships with key policy and decision makers, stakeholders and partners including the U.S. Congress, executive branch Department and agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services and the National Security Staff as well as the private sector and academia;
• Advocate for and advance critical emergency management issues and policies that significantly impact major metropolitan areas; and
• Work to elevate the importance of strong and independent emergency management operations in major metropolitan areas.

What is the mission of BCEM?
The mission of the Big City Emergency Managers is to foster the development and growth of robust and nimble emergency management organizations in the nation’s largest, most at-risk metropolitan jurisdictions so that the country is better positioned to prevent, protect against, mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from major incidents and catastrophic emergencies.

When was BCEM founded?
BCEM was founded in 2005 by the Council for Excellence in Government with the support of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Since that time, it has become an independent, non-profit organization. Its participation has increased from 4 to 15 jurisdictions, representing almost 20% of the nation’s population and 90% of the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant (UASI) funds that are allocated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) annually.

Where can I find more information about BCEM?

For additional information regarding BCEM, please contact the Executive Director of BCEM at:

Ron Prater
rprater@bigcityem.org; 703-655-7019