Works with local government, state and federal agencies and voluntary organizations to provide resources and expertise through the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

The Secretary oversees twelve state agencies, which are charged with a variety of responsibilities, including enforcing criminal, highway safety, and alcoholic beverage laws; protecting the public through confinement, treatment and re-entry preparation; training firefighters and other first responders, and planning and coordinating the state's emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts.