Release Date: January 9, 2008
Release Number: R6-08-001
DENTON, TEXAS -- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 6 Regional Administrator William Peterson has announced the first meeting of the newly formed Regional Emergency Communications Coordination (RECC) Working Group. That meeting is set for January 23, at the FEMA Region 6 office in Denton, Texas.
The members of the RECC Working group will work to make sure that, no matter what the conditions, information flows before, during and after a disaster or crisis. This is critical in order to address immediate and critical human needs in response to natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other manmade disasters.
The RECC Working Group will coordinate with diverse communicators, ranging from state interoperable communications councils/committees to ham radio operators, local broadcasters and cable operators. They will also work with hospitals and emergency health care providers, wireless carriers, satellite communications services, public utility services, ambulance services - both public and private, emergency evacuation transit services and other entities as necessary.
"The RECC Working Group consists of experts from every state in this region. Theyre experienced in law enforcement, emergency management, technology and communications," said Regional Administrator William Peterson. "We welcome their emergency communication ideas and contributions, and look forward to working with them."
Members initially will serve staggered term lengths. One third will serve for one year, one third will serve for two years and one third will serve for three years. Eventually, all terms will be three years long.
The development of the RECC Working Group was set into motion by the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act
RECC WORKING GROUP MEMBERS
Subject Matter Expert | Member | Organization | Title |
---|---|---|---|
State Official | Jack Colley | Governor's Division of Emergency Management | Chief |
Local Government | Gary Surad | Bernalillo County Emergency Mgmt | Emergency Manager |
Local Government | Glenn 'Sonny' Cox | Arkansas County, AR | County Judge |
Local Government | Donald Lynch | Shawnee/Pottawatomie County | Emergency Manager |
State Police | Dale Saffold | Arkansas State Police | Captain |
State Police | Todd Early | DPS Communications | Chief |
State Police | Will Borden | Oklahoma DPS | 800MHz Expansion Manager |
Public Health | Rick Bays | DSHS, Emergency Preparedness & Response | Branch Manager |
Emergency Medical Service | Wynn Brannin | New Mexico Dept. of Health-EMS | IT/COMM Lead |
Local Police/Sheriffs | Joe Peters | Texas Sheriff's Association | Chief |
Local Police/Sheriffs | Keith Jackson | Greenwood Police Department, AR | Chief of Police |
Local Police/Sheriffs | Ricky Edwards | Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office | Sheriff, Emergency Manager |
Fire | Alfred Lujan | Las Cruces Fire Department | Battalion Chief, OPS |
Fire | Brian Crawford | Shreveport Fire Department | Exec Assistant to the Chief |
Fire | Dannie Smith | Sugar Land Fire & Rescue | Chief |
9-1-1 Services | Mike Simpson | City of Austin | Wireless Comm Manager |
9-1-1 Services | Matt Stillwell | Edmond, OK | EOC |
9-1-1 Services | Don Cooper | San Juan County, NM | Emergency Manager |
State EM/HSA/TAG | Danny Ormand | Arkansas Department of Emergency Management | Deputy Director |
State EM/HSA/TAG | David Abernathy | Texas Forestry Service | State EM/HSA/TAG |
State EM/HSA/TAG | Putnam Reiter | Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management | Information Technology |
Local Emergency Management | Kenny Shaw | City of Dallas, TX | Emergency Manager |
Local Emergency Management | Eric Deroche | LEPA | Emergency Manager |
Local Emergency Management | Bill Swan | ARRL-North Texas | Emergency Coordinator |
FEMA coordinates the federal governments role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Jan-2008 12:55:20