Emergency management officials are the first line of defense when disaster strikes. The regulations and techniques they employ change and evolve, adding to the already stressful nature of their jobs.
The Emergency Management Association of Georgia (EMAG) plays an important role in keeping emergency managers (EMs) updated on changes and training opportunities impacting their profession.
Recently, EMAG brought together EMs from across northern Georgia for its Area 1 monthly business meeting in Cleveland. The October 10 gathering provided them with an opportunity to learn, coordinate, and network.
A ‘hub for regional preparedness’
In a presentation streamed to local emergency management agencies across the state, GEMA/HS Training and Exercise Manager Melissa Slocumb shared updates to federal grant requirements. The director of UGA’s Institute for Disaster Management, Dr. Curt Harris, spoke about the university’s disaster management programs and capstone internship program.
That presentation was of particular interest to Habersham County Assistant EMA Director Melanie Bellinger, who also serves as EMAG’s state treasurer.
“UGA has a Certified Public Health (CPH) intern program that will allow the interns to work directly with EMAs to have a better understanding of what EMA does and assist them with day-to-day requirements of the position,” she explains.
While Bellinger says meetings such as this help “improve our knowledge in our position,” they also help with relationship-building. Area 1 covers 24 counties.
“The Area 1 Monthly EMAG Meeting serves as a hub for regional preparedness and collaboration. With representatives from counties around the region, the meeting offers a platform for local emergency managers to network and collaborate,” says White County Public Information Officer Bryce Barrett. “This allows local emergency management agencies to share updates in emergency management and foster more efficient mutual aid responses between counties.”
A ‘great networking tool’
Habersham County EMA Director Lynn Smith knows full well the impact these regional meetings can have. She served as Area 1 co-chair and then chair for four years before moving to the state level. For the past twelve years, Smith has served as EMAG’s state secretary.
“We meet monthly to share and discuss events in our respective areas. It is a great networking tool and gives you the opportunity to meet your neighbor that you may have to depend on during a disaster,” Smith says. “I have been deployed to multiple counties after tornados to assist. It is a very rewarding job.”
EMAG represents the interest of all the state’s local EMAs at the state level.
“We are their voice to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency,” Smith says. “We meet quarterly with GEMA command staff and discuss any concerns that the locals may have.”
White County Emergency Services Division Chief Don Strength now occupies the Area 1 Chair Smith previously held.
Another important function of EMAG is that it helps emergency managers maintain their required certification through continuing education. The organization sponsors an annual state conference where attendees can get their training and education hours.
Smith says, “We want to help as much as we can by keeping our neighboring counties up to date and prepared for anything that is coming in the future.”
