MOEP is comprised of two divisions, Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

MOEP's Emergency Management Division is responsible for coordinating the City's emergency management program. The program is based on a citywide system that provides for management and coordination of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities for all hazards. The Emergency Management Division includes professional staff and liaisons from the City's public safety agencies, who work together to ensure emergency preparedness efforts are appropriately coordinated across City departments, and with Federal, state, and private sector partners.

The Emergency Management Division manages Boston's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), facilitates emergency planning efforts, including maintenance of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), and provides assistance in the aftermath of a disaster, including the coordination of shelter operations, disaster assessments, and the application for Community and Individual Assistance from the Federal government.

On behalf of the City and the Metro-Boston Homeland Security Region (MBHSR), MOEP's Homeland Security Division seeks and manages grant funding to strengthen preparedness programs. Since 2003, homeland security grant funds have supported efforts to enhance the Metro-Boston Region's ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from natural and human caused disasters. Some of the initiatives supported through this grant program include:

• Communication Interoperability: The Metro-Boston Region is implementing its 5-year Communications Interoperability Strategy, touted by the Department of Homeland Security as a national model. These efforts have greatly enhanced the ability of first responders from various jurisdictions and agencies to effectively communicate during emergencies or major planned events.
• Boston Regional Intelligence Center: Led by the Boston Police Department, the BRIC is a collaborative of local, state, and federal partners that work to enhance the analysis and sharing of information to fight crime and prevent acts of terrorism.
• DelValle Institute of Emergency Preparedness: Coordinated by the Boston Public Health Commission, the Institute has provided emergency preparedness training to over 10,000 public safety and public health personnel from across the Metro-Boston Region.