MUSCATINE, Iowa – Muscatine County Emergency Management Director Brian Wright has successfully completed the Iowa Emergency Management Association course on Emergency Management Program Development (EMPD). The course provides a comprehensive overview of the statutory requirements and professional duties of today’s emergency managers.
Wright and Chris Showalter of Butler County completed the four-part course during the August 8 session at the Polk County Emergency Management Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
“There has been a lot of driving back and forth to Des Moines, listening to lectures from my peers, and a lot of practical experience in the last nine months since I was named the director,” Wright said. “I have completed 13 of the 18 courses that are recommended for emergency management directors and my goal is to have accomplished all 18 by my anniversary date in October.”
Not only has Wright been actively involved in the education process of emergency management, he has also been actively involved in the management process, dealing with the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) concerning this past spring’s flooding.
“One of the biggest things we were able to accomplish is receiving the Presidential Disaster Declaration,” Wright said. “That makes it easier for local residents to receive disaster relief assistance.”
Most of the investigation and reporting on local flood recovery needs has been accomplished with the process now moving up to the state and federal level.
“We still have a lot to do,” Wright said. “We were above flood stage for 99 days and that caused a lot of damage.”
With the assessment completed, the wait begins to see how much money will be allocated by the state and federal governments for recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, Wright will continue with his education schedule.
Delivered in a four-part series over a calendar year, the EMPD course provides a comprehensive overview of the statutory requirements and professional duties of today's emergency manager. Developed and delivered by practitioners in four separate six hour sessions, the course is an opportunity for peer to peer learning through lecture as well as task-oriented coaching. Technical and soft skill development in the areas of administration, planning, resource management, training, and exercises are included.
Sessions can be taken individually and in any sequence, however, all four sessions are required for full course certificate of completion.