The Oak Forest Emergency Management Agency (EMA) provides equipment and volunteer manpower during disasters and emergency situations. The organization was started as Oak Forest Civil Defense after the June 23, 1962, tornado hit the El Vista subdivision (area of 151st Street and Central Avenue).
The EMA is comprised of 12 volunteers. The Operations Center is located at 5301 W. 157th Street, adjacent to the Public Works Department. Resources and equipment are available to assist other Oak Forest departments and neighboring communities when needed. EMA provides a complete mobile incident command center, mobile high-intesity area lighting vehicle, rescue equipment, severe weather spotters, emergency power at disaster scenes, and crowd and traffic control.
Suburban Mutual Assistance Response Team
Oak Forest is a charter member of the Suburban Mutual Assistance Response Team (SMART), which includes 28 active emergency management jurisdictions. SMART provides more than 200 volunteers and more than 140 vehicles and equipment as needed.