Department of Emergency Services (DES)

The Department of Emergency Service’s mission is to provide guidance to field operations personnel and overall command and control during large-scale emergencies and county-wide disasters. Cooperation and coordination are carried out between the field Incident Commander and the staff in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) utilizing the Incident Command System. Stillwater County Emergency frequently uses a Unified Command (UC) structure for managing some of our most complex disasters. We have successfully used the UC structure during the June 2022 flooding event and the June 2023 Train Derailment in the Yellowstone River,

Overall responsibility for disaster management is vested in the Board of Commissioners.

We strive to keep you up to date with current issues that may affect the citizens of Stillwater County and how to assist you and your family prepare. The Office of DES specializes in

Disaster
Preparedness
Mitigation
Response
Recovery
Prevention.

Stillwater County Emergency Management

The Department of Emergency Services (DES) or Emergency Management as it is sometimes referred to, is a collective effort to help prevent, and minimize the seriousness of emergencies and disasters. This office is dedicated to providing leadership and high-quality services that improve the safety of the public and Stillwater County. This office works hard to establish partnerships with the public safety agencies of Stillwater County including fire, police, public works, EMS, volunteers, critical industries, and more. These public safety agencies coordinate before, during, and after an incident. Coordination is a key factor in establishing an effective program, and continual improvement saves lives and reduces losses from disasters!

Stillwater County Supports Law Enforcement Operations Dec 2025

Stillwater County DES supported law enforcement operations during an incident that involved a complex crime scene investigation by Stillwater County Sheriff's Office and MT Department of Justice.

During this time Stillwater County DES deployed our command trailer for on scene operations and coordination between responding agencies.

Additionally, Stillwater County DES deployed Star Link and cradlepoint routers, powered by FirstNet, to support ongoing communications due to a lack of cell and internet service in the area. We also requested a deployable cell tower (SAT COLT) from FirstNet to the scene which provided on site cellular communications to support the incident.

Pictured above is the SC DES Command Trailer providing on scene operational support.

Stillwater County Partners with Sibanye-Stillwater to Conduct TTX on Tailing Pond Failure 13 Nov 2025

Columbus, Montana — Stillwater County successfully conducted a comprehensive tabletop exercise (TTX) today focused on a simulated tailings pond failure scenario at the Stillwater Mine. The exercise, held at the Stillwater County Civic Center, was developed and facilitated by Sim MT, and delivered strong results in advancing multi-agency preparedness and coordination.

The TTX brought together a wide range of local, state, and federal partners to test response strategies, assess operational readiness, and strengthen communication pathways in the event of a large-scale mining-related incident. The scenario challenged teams to work through complex decision-making, resource allocation, public alerting, and downstream impacts to communities and infrastructure.

Participating agencies included:

• Stillwater County Disaster & Emergency Services (DES)

• Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office

• Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)

• Stillwater County GIS Department

• Stillwater County Roads & Bridges

• National Weather Service (NWS)

• Montana Disaster & Emergency Services (MT DES)

• Sibanye-Stillwater operations personnel

Stillwater County DES noted that the exercise improved common operating picture development, refined cross-agency coordination procedures, and validated components of the county’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and related annexes.

Pictured above: Stillwater County and Sibanye-Stillwater participate in the TTX.

Stillwater County WiRē Project Launch

Stillwater County Emergency Services, in partnership with Columbus Fire/Rescue, DNRC Fire, and the Stillwater Valley Watershed Council, has launched the Wildfire Research (WiRē) Project to reduce local wildfire risk.

The project includes roadside home assessments and homeowner surveys to gather detailed data on wildfire exposure and community preparedness. This information will help guide fuels reduction, outreach, and emergency planning across the county.

By combining professional expertise with resident feedback, the WiRē Project ensures local voices play a central role in shaping wildfire mitigation strategies that protect homes, families, and firefighters.

Photo: Stillwater County and Columbus Fire/Rescue with project partners from DNRC and the Stillwater Valley Watershed Council.

Photo: Training session kickoff with classroom instruction. Photo: Wildland fire engines staged during field operations

Stillwater County DES Supports Benbow Search & Rescue Mission

On 25 August 2025 Stillwater County DES supported the Stillwater County Sheriff's Office with the Benbow Search & Rescue (SAR) mission. This was a complex SAR mission that was ongoing for several days and involved local, state, and federal resources. Assisting departments included Carbon, Big Horn, Park, Gallatin, Sweetgrass and Yellowstone Counties, US Air Force, and MT National Guard. The individual was located on 25 August, and a rescue mission was completed on the morning of 26 August, with assistance from MT National Guard aviation resources.

Pictured above: USAF assists with the ongoing BENBOW SAR mission

Pictured above: Incident Command Post at Benbow SAR Mission

Pictured above: MT National Guard aviation resources

Stillwater Conducts ICS Training to improve Disaster Response

Stillwater County Emergency Services continues to enhance our ability to respond to and recover from disasters through a robust training and education program. During 2024 Stillwater County DES and County Commissioners identified the need to establish a team of county employees to staff our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies and disasters. Over the past year we have established an EOC Team and provided them with basic incident command system (ICS) training. As we moved into 2025 (and are approaching our fire season) we partnered with MT Department of Disaster and Emergency Services (MT DES) to deliver a series of ICS course trainings that will enhance our capabilities. Last month we delivered the ICS 191 EOC Incident Management Team Interface course. On 27 – 29 May we delivered the ICS 300 Incident Command for Expanding Incidents to our EOC Team, Columbus Fire & Rescue and Red Lodge Fire & Rescue personnel. The course was a great success and will serve to enhance our ability to effectively respond during times of crisis and disaster. David Stamey, Stillwater Co DES Chief, states “this is our path forward, partnering with agencies like MT DES and delivering quality training locally.”

Pictured above: Stillwater County DES staff, Columbus Fire & Rescue, Red Lodge Fire & Rescue and MT DES.

Pictured above: Students participate in a class exercise.

Stillwater County Conducts Regional Active Shooter/ Hostile Event Training

Stillwater County Emergency Services continues to deliver training and exercises for response to an Active Shooter/ Hostile Event (ASHE). In 2023 Stillwater County Emergency Services partnered with the Department of Homeland Security (CISA) to develop and deliver a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) that focused on an active shooter scenario. The tabletop exercise included partners from Carbon County, the City of Laurel, Yellowstone County, DHS, MT Fusion Center, MT Department of Military Affairs, local hospitals, and local critical industry. The exercise was a success and the after action indicated that we should continue working on a regional response plan, partnering with our neighboring jurisdictions and conduct Rescue Task Force (RTF) training.

In late 2023 Stillwater County Emergency Services secured funding through a Homeland Security Grant (HSG) for ASHE response equipment and Rescue Task Force training for our tri-county region. Stillwater and Carbon Counties partnered to search for Rescue Task Force training and selected the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) to deliver the courses. Continuing our regional approach, classes were delivered in Columbus, Red Lodge and Laurel on 24 – 26 October of this year. The courses were a great success and will allow for a more integrated response to an Active Shooter/ Hostile event.

Stillwater County Emergency Services partners with NorthWestern Energy to conduct a two-day long exercise

Stillwater County Department of Emergency Services (SC DES) partnered with NorthWestern Energy (NWE) to conduct a two-day exercise to test the emergency response to a simulated dam failure of the Mystic Lake Dam. Over the past six months SC DES and NWE have worked to plan this exercise which brought together local, state, and federal partners. Over 50 representatives came together on 07 - 08 May 2024 at the Stillwater County Civic Center to work through this exercise together with great success.

SC DES has worked to establish a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) which is located in the Civic Center and to provide training for our newly formed EOC Team. This exercise allowed us to use the new EOC and also test how our EOC Team would come together to work through a disaster. We believe the exercise was a success and allowed our new EOC Team to put their skills to the test. This is the third exercise Stillwater County Emergency Services has planned and conducted over the past year. Exercises like this allow our team to be better prepared for an actual emergency or disaster. Stillwater County Emergency Services continues to improve how we do business and provide services to our citizens in times of a disaster.

Pictured above are the participants in the Mystic Lake Dam Exercise held at the Stillwater County Civic Center on 07 - 08 May 2024

Stillwater County Emergency Services and Sheriff's Office Acquires Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)

Pictured above:

Stillwater County Emergency Services and Sheriff's Office are pictured with Sibanye Stillwater after our recent purchase of an Unmanned Aircraft System (Drone). The Sibanye Stillwater Community Giving Program helped purchase a new UAS (Drone) to enhance our emergency response capabilities. UAS are commonly used for surveying damages from disasters, search and rescue, firefighting operations, and law enforcement operations.

Stillwater County Emergency Services partners with the FirstNet Authority at the June 2023 Train Derailment

Pictured above is Stillwater County Emergency Services and First Net partnering to improve communications at the June 2023 Train Derailment in the Yellowstone River.