About The Sussex County Division of Emergency Communications

The Division of Emergency Communications

A Message from the Deputy Director

On behalf of the dedicated team at the Sussex County Division of Emergency Communications, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our website and thank you for your interest in the vital work we do to keep Sussex County, Delaware, safe and prepared.

Since its establishment, the Division of Emergency Communications has served as the central hub for emergency communications and coordinated response efforts across our communities. Our mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of residents and visitors alike, whether we are responding to daily emergencies or coordinating resources during major events and disasters. Through state-of-the-art technology, robust training, and strong partnerships with local agencies, we strive to provide the highest standard of service in times of need.

Allow me to introduce myself—my name is Richard Short, and I have the honor of serving as the Deputy Director of Emergency Communications for Sussex County. With a career dedicated to public safety and many years of experience in emergency management, I am committed to fostering a culture of excellence, resilience, and community engagement within our organization. It is my privilege to work alongside a remarkable team of professionals who are passionate about making a difference when it matters most.

We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our services, preparedness resources, and how you can play a part in building a safer Sussex County. Together, we can face any challenge and ensure our community remains strong and connected.

Richard Short
Deputy Director of Emergency Communications

Deputy Director of Public Safety

-

Emergency Communications

Richard C. Short

To be a trusted, unified public safety organization that leads through collaboration, innovation, and service—building a safer, more prepared, and resilient Sussex County.

Through collaboration and unwavering professionalism, our mission is to protect life and property of all who live, work, or visit Sussex County.

Values

These values define how we serve. By demonstrating Professionalism, Service, Collaboration, Preparedness, and Innovation in our actions and decisions, we earn and protect what matters most—Public Trust.

We conduct ourselves with integrity, accountability, competence, and respect. We take responsibility for our actions, maintain high standards, and represent the Department and the community we serve with professionalism in every interaction.

We put the needs of our community at the center of what we do. We are committed to providing responsive, compassionate, and dependable service to those who rely on us, especially during their most difficult moments.

We work together toward a common mission. We value the expertise and contributions of each division, employee, and partner and recognize that communication, cooperation, and shared responsibility make us stronger and more effective.

We prepare today so we are ready when our community needs us. Through planning, training, situational awareness, and continuous readiness, we anticipate challenges and maintain the people, systems, and capabilities necessary to respond effectively.

We continually seek better ways to serve. We embrace thoughtful change, technology, evidence, employee ideas, and lessons learned to improve our services, systems, and outcomes.

We earn and protect the confidence placed in us. Through transparency, integrity, accountability, and consistent performance, we strive to be worthy of the trust of our community, our partners, and one another.