DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS

Fort Worth City Code ch. 2, art. IV, div. 23

in effect

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.5 CREATION AND ESTABLISHMENT.

§ 2-177.5 CREATION AND ESTABLISHMENT. The department of emergency management and communications is hereby established. The department shall be under the supervision of a director, who shall be subject to appointment and removal by the city manager. The salary of the director shall be in accordance with the compensation plan of the city. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.6 APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEES.

§ 2-177.6 APPOINTMENT OF EMPLOYEES. In accordance with established personnel procedures and as provided by the city budget, the director shall have the power to appoint, employ and remove such assistants, employees and other personnel as the director deems necessary for the efficient administration of the affairs of the department. The director shall prescribe the duties of and compensation to such assistants, employees and other personnel in accordance with the city's compensation plan. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.7 DUTIES.

§ 2-177.7 DUTIES. The director will report to the city manager and will carry out their duties under the direction of the city manager and in support of the mayor as the emergency management director, consistent with Tex. Government Code § 418.1015. The director and his or her employees shall be responsible for directing the activities of the department of emergency management and communications, including comprehensive emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery), public safety communications (excluding fire communications unless otherwise authorized by law), and operational coordination during emergency incidents. The director shall also be responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, codes, and standards and shall coordinate with the Fort Worth chief of police and Fort Worth fire chief to ensure a unified response structure is maintained. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.8 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.

§ 2-177.8 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS. (a) Emergency communications is hereby created as a division of the department of emergency management and communications. The division shall be overseen by an administrator under the supervision and direction of the director and is charged with carrying out the responsibilities outlined herein. (b) The administrator's duties shall include oversight of the city's emergency communications and 911 center, including all non-fire call takers, in compliance with applicable state and local law. To the extent Fort Worth EMS call takers are designated as firefighters under Texas law or local agreement, they shall remain under the authority of the Fort Worth fire chief, but operational coordination, facilities oversight, and systemwide communications protocols shall remain the responsibility of this department. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.9 OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

§ 2-177.9 OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. The Office of Emergency Management, as described by § 11.5-5 of Chapter 11.5 of the Code, shall be a division within the department of emergency management and communications and report to the director. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.10 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AUTHORITY.

§ 2-177.10 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AUTHORITY. (a) The department of emergency management and communications is in operational control of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and, upon a local emergency declaration, the director shall serve as the city's lead coordinating official for all emergency response and recovery activities in support of the mayor as the city's emergency management director consistent with Tex. Government Code § 418.1015. All communications to the public and external partners from public safety agencies shall be coordinated through the EOC and Joint Information Center (JIC), under the oversight of this department. (b) The director shall ensure that all city personnel, including but not limited to police, fire, and emergency medical services, integrate their response efforts through the EOC structure and in alignment with the city's adopted emergency management plans and protocols. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.11 INTERDEPARTMENTAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION.

§ 2-177.11 INTERDEPARTMENTAL AND EXTERNAL COORDINATION. (a) The department shall serve as the city's primary point of coordination for all emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts involving external partners, including but not limited to county governments, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), the State of Texas, and neighboring units of local government. (b) The department shall be responsible for maintaining and executing mutual aid agreements and interagency coordination frameworks to support public safety and continuity of operations during emergencies. (Ord. 27741-06-2025, § 2, passed 6-10-2025)

Fort Worth City Code § 2-177.12 through 2-177.14 RESERVED.

Source: City of Fort Worth, Code of Ordinances, City Charter and Zoning Ordinance (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-75820Fetched: 10/26/2026