The function of a county government risk management program is two-fold.  First, the program organizes the process of preventing losses.  Some losses such as tornado damage cannot be prevented.  Some losses occur because normal control measures fail.  The second part of the risk management function, therefore, is to reduce the severity of losses that do happen.  Risk management, as a critical component of any sound organization, can save money so that county commissioners can allow budget adjustments and keep tax increases low.  A working program allows county mayors, county commissioners, and other officials, as well as general county employees, to provide better essential services, and to improve the overall performance of county government in the eyes of the public it serves.