Learning the Ropes: Following Our New EMD Part 2

Greetings all!

Sam here!

Phew! This last couple of weeks has been jam-packed with work! Here’s an update on how our new EMD is doing, learning the ropes of the emergency management world.

Along with getting his first look at computer systems the EMA uses, Rod is learning about systems used by our county and by the state and federal governments. With the arrival of the STEMS website, life has never been more organized and easier when trying to track progress through our required FEMA Independent Studies courses. STEMS is available to everyone in Missouri who needs to take IS courses for one reason or another and it is far better than having to keep track of each and every paper certificate/certification we may have to track.

So far, Rod has completed the IS-100, IS-200, and IS-700. He is hard at work on the IS-800 now. These are the first four courses in a series of 11 which are required by EMA personnel to maintain our qualification for the EMPG (Emergency Management Performance Grant), which give us 50% funding for things like our salaries, operating costs for the EMA, and more.

I am currently working on our 4th quarter EMPG which is due this Friday. We are hoping Rod will be ready to learn to fill and file it during the 5th quarter (the pandemic has thrown our year out of whack, so the EMPG has been shifted from 4q to 6q to get us back in line, funding-wise.) and he should then be filing it for the EMA thereafter!

Rod has also met a never-ending stream of people we work with from various businesses, agencies, and organizations here in our county. He actually knows a LOT of people already, so that has helped with a number of projects and challenges we are tackling.

We will continue to bring you updates on his progress as he learns his new job!

Previous blogs in this series:

Part 1