With an increase in extreme weather like heavy rain, heat waves, and man-made hazards such as oil spills happening across major U.S. cities, emergency managers understand the unique challenges dense urban areas face. To construct the best approach in emergency response, the Council for Excellence in Government founded the Big City Emergency Managers (BCEM) in 2005. The nonprofit organization serves as a venue to exchange vital information and discuss areas of mutual concern in emergency response matters. Today, the group has grown to include 15 jurisdictions.