IAEM-USA Region 1

Today, in light of recent reports regarding the restructuring or abolishing of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the presidents of the National Emergency Management Association, the International Association of Emergency Managers, and the Big City Emergency Managers issued a joint statement, “Reform FEMA, Not Abolish FEMA.” Read the full statement: https://loom.ly/Di6D6j4 #IAEM #FEMA #ReformNotAbolish #EmergencyManagement

Today we hit the Hill to advocate for the emergency management community, and it’s clear FEMA's future is hanging in the balance. During a Cabinet meeting on Monday, the DHS Secretary asserted "we are going to?eliminate FEMA". By Tuesday, senior officials from DHS and FEMA met to discuss winding the agency down by September 30. That’s the backdrop we walked into this morning when we met with FEMA Acting Administrator Cam Hamilton, then sat down with the offices of Senators Paul, Tillis, and Graham, Rep. Edwards, and the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. We didn’t mince words. Dismantling FEMA would tear through the emergency management system and leave communities exposed when they need us most. Federal disaster policy is shifting too fast, and local and state emergency managers are struggling to adapt. The consequences of hasty change could be catastrophic. Our message was clear: reform should be deliberate, built with input from local and state experts, and focused on strengthening (not gutting) the systems our communities count on. Grateful to have had the opportunity to join some of the best in the business Drew Chandler, Josh Morton, Wike Graham, and Thad Huguley, who brought unfiltered perspectives and boots on the ground insight from active response and recovery operations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. With a rough start to 2025, from wildfires to terrorism to plane crashes already stretching emergency managers thin, and hurricane season just 60 days away, this is no time for a hatchet job. #IAEM #EmergencyManagement International Association of Emergency Managers

I’m excited to announce my candidacy for International Association of Emergency Managers 2nd Vice President! In my latest video, I share why I’m running and how we can work together to strengthen IAEM and support emergency management professionals across all sectors. We are all united in this mission from local to federal, rural to urban, non-profit to business, healthcare to higher education. It’s time for our profession to get the recognition and resources it deserves, and I’m committed to making that happen. Check out the video, and stay tuned for more updates. Let’s make a difference together! #MuseFor2ndVP #EmergencyManagement #IAEM #Leadership #StrongerTogether

??Calling all Emergency Management Professionals! ?? The IAEM Region 1 Annual Conference is coming up before you know it, June 12, 2025 at Umass Lowell. We are looking to you! We are looking for dynamic speakers to help us Ready the Region. If you have expertise, lessons learned or innovative ideas on this years theme: Exploring Emergency Management Interdependencies and Critical Infrastructure, now is the time to share your knowledge and contribute to the conversation! Interested in speaking? Submit your proposal by the link below or the QR Code on the image: https://lnkd.in/eNvGTAgR ??Why attend? ? Engage with top emergency management professionals in your region ? Gain insights into the latest challenges and solutions ? Network with industry leaders ? Take the IAEM AEM/CEM exam the following day (June 13, 2025) ??Event Details: ??Conference: Thursday, June 12, 2025 ??IAEM AEM/CEM Exam: Friday, June 13, 2025 ??Location: Umass Lowell, Lowell, MA #IAEM #IAEMRegion1 #CallForSpeakers #Emergency Management

Poster Showcase Submissions are NOW OPEN! Each year, IAEM hosts this information-sharing event at the Annual Conference. Whether you are an EM student, practitioner, or work in academia, there is an opportunity for YOU. Showcase your research project, practice, or general findings with members of the emergency management community. Submission deadline: Friday, April 11 Learn more: https://loom.ly/9WdjjgQ #IAEM #EmergencyManagement #IAEM25 #PosterShowcase

????Sounding the Alarm???? In the last 10 days the national preparedness system has been fractured, impacting all of us. First: On Feb 28, FEMA announced all grants were moved to a manual review process, delaying payments by at least 30 days. In response to the uncertainty, some states issued notices to local jurisdictions with orders to stop spending on all grants immediately. Second: On March 7, FEMA announced all in-person trainings were canceled at the Center for Domestic Preparedness, National Disaster and Emergency Management University, and the National Fire Academy. What does this mean to you? The grant funds in question help pay for first responder and community preparedness equipment (and maintenance), staff time, training and exercises, etc. #EmergencyManagement, #Firefighters, #EmergencyMedicalServices and #LawEnforcement are included. The training? Canceled this week: -Law enforcement: World Cup preparedness and response (for all cities involved), active shooter training, CBRNE response, and counter-terrorism training. -National Fire Academy: Incident command, hazardous materials response, fire command leadership, and fire investigations training. -Emergency management: NDEMU trainings were moved to a virtual platform with more cancellations to come. What does this mean to you? These critical training opportunities ensure YOUR communities have the capacity to respond to emergencies. Bluntly: standardization and professionalization of emergency readiness, response, and recovery is on the line. If you think this won’t impact your community, consider this: In 2023, there were over 27,200 emergencies handled at the local and state level that didn’t involve additional federal government investment or participation. These response capabilities are what is directly impacted by the delayed grant payments and cancellation of training. That’s an average of 540 emergencies per state in 2023, where standards, professionalization, and modern (and maintained) equipment helped people in their darkest hour. Emergency managers and first responders need to get LOUD. Join forces with neighboring counties, regions, states, and associations… meet with your local and state elected officials, and let the DHS Secretary and FEMA Acting Administrator know how important these things are in order to protect and safeguard lives and property in your communities. Of note, last week the first item prioritized in IAEM’s testimony to Congress focused on sustaining the national preparedness system. It was an intentional delivery of our priorities. Preparedness is not a matter of insurance before an emergency. Instead, preparedness provides assurances that we can respond and aid each other when we need it most. International Association of Emergency Managers

?? Emergency Managers. It’s time to mobilize. Here’s a playbook. ?? Three Things You Can Do To Support The Future of Emergency Management: 1?? Contact your local and state elected officials and community leaders. Educate and inform them on the emergency management enterprise. Disasters MUST be federally supported, state-managed, and locally executed and directed. That last part is important (and my own addition). Emphasize the importance of federal grants on our mission and our ability to serve communities. Recommend the creation of a state and local Disaster Relief Fund. Remember, there is power in numbers; engage your colleagues locally, in the private sector, and your state associations to amplify these messages. 2?? Contact federal representatives—as many as you can. If you need to prioritize, start with the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure members and the House and Senate Committees on Homeland Security. Educate and inform the members on the emergency management enterprise. Disasters MUST be federally supported, state-managed, and locally executed and directed. Emphasize the importance of federal grants on our mission and our ability to serve communities. Federal grants MUST keep flowing until a permanent reform solution is in place.?Local emergency management voices must also have a seat at the FEMA Review Council table. 3?? Share your story. Record a video, 30 seconds to 1-minute max, with your first-person point of view explaining who we are, why our mission is so important, and why we need support to continue helping people before, during, and after disasters. Post the video online and tag members of the media, Congress, FEMA, and other organizations to help get online traction. Then, consider writing opinion editorials and submitting them to local media outlets to educate the public about emergency management. It’s true. The national disaster management system needs reform. But that reform cannot jeopardize our mission. We must have an emergency management presence at the federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector levels.?And the reality is that we need MORE capacity at all levels. Not less. Members of the International Association of Emergency Managers, please check IAEM Connect and your email for an additional Call to Action. Consider joining the Government Affairs Committee and the Community and Member Engagement Committee, as both groups are diligently working on this issue. In November, at the IAEM Annual Conference, I issued a challenge to emergency managers everywhere. This is the year of the Maverick. Now is the time to BE a Maverick. Be bold. Be intentional and strategic. Be calculated and smart. But don’t jeopardize your organization, your career, or the emergency management enterprise in the process. We got this. ??

Attention all Emergency Managers! The 2025 IAEM Region 1 Conference is happening on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at UMass Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts! Join us as we Ready the Region! ??? This year’s theme focuses on Exploring Emergency Management Interdependencies and Critical Infrastructure, bringing together emergency management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators for a full-day event packed with insights, networking, and recognition of excellence in our field. ?? Why Attend? ? Hear from thought leaders in emergency management ? Celebrate outstanding contributions with our annual awards ? Build connections with peers during networking sessions ? Prepare for and take the IAEM AEM/CEM exam on Friday, June 13, 2025 ?? More details on registration and sponsorship opportunities coming soon! Mark your calendars and get ready to engage, learn, and lead in shaping the future of emergency management in Region 1. Let’s strengthen our networks and resilience together! ???? ?? Location: UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA ?? Conference Date: June 12, 2025 ?? IAEM AEM/CEM Exam: June 13, 2025 #IAEM #IAEMRegion1 #EmergencyManagement #ReadyTheRegion #IAEMConference #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment

Attention all Emergency Managers! The 2025 IAEM Region 1 Conference is happening on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at UMass Lowell in Lowell, Massachusetts! Join us as we Ready the Region! ??? This year’s theme focuses on Exploring Emergency Management Interdependencies and Critical Infrastructure, bringing together emergency management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators for a full-day event packed with insights, networking, and recognition of excellence in our field. ?? Why Attend? ? Hear from thought leaders in emergency management ? Celebrate outstanding contributions with our annual awards ? Build connections with peers during networking sessions ? Prepare for and take the IAEM AEM/CEM exam on Friday, June 13, 2025 ?? More details on registration and sponsorship opportunities coming soon! Mark your calendars and get ready to engage, learn, and lead in shaping the future of emergency management in Region 1. Let’s strengthen our networks and resilience together! ???? ?? Location: UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA ?? Conference Date: June 12, 2025 ?? IAEM AEM/CEM Exam: June 13, 2025 #IAEM #IAEMRegion1 #EmergencyManagement #ReadyTheRegion #IAEMConference #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment

?? IAEM Region 1 Members—Help us plan some fun! As we look ahead to 2025, we’re exploring ways to bring our members together outside of work for fun, team-building activities. Whether it's whitewater rafting, Six Flags, escape rooms, or something else, we want to know what interests you! (This is a self-funded initiative, meaning participants will cover their own costs.) Your feedback will help us plan events that best fit our group. ?? Rank your favorite activities & submit your own ideas here: https://lnkd.in/e8c5Qk9K Let's make this a great year for IAEM Region 1!