The Woodward News

Local News

March 20, 2010

Emergency managers work before, during, after disasters

Michelle Seeber Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Matt Lehenbauer is a busy man.

As Woodward County and city emergency management director he works on disaster prevention projects, preparedness, response and recovery -- all of which require planning, grant writing and managing of police officers and firefighters during a disaster, should one occur.

He also has been appointed an emergency manager by Gov. Brad Henry, which allows him to work in national and statewide disasters.

“There’s a shelter on the Louisiana coast where I would handle a communications team for FEMA, Homeland Security, Louisiana state officials and Oklahoma state officials,” he said, noting “this is a new program.”

In the area of preparedness, Lehenbauer said he works year-around developing emergency plans and conducting training with EMS paramedics, law enforcement officers and firefighters.

When responding during emergencies, such as wildfires, he directs operations and helps officers get resources. In the case of a wildfire, he would help in getting more trucks, equipment and/or manpower.

Recovery can involve being the intermediate person between FEMA and public officials in getting federal funds to help with reimbursement after a disaster, Lehenbauer said.  It could also involve getting FEMA to rebuild a community building, making sure it’s tornado proof.

Recovery can also can involve overseeing cleanup efforts.

For example, he said, “the Environmental Protection Agency restricts what can be done with debris after a disaster, and we have to oversee that.”

Grant writing comes into play when the county or the city might need new equipment or to pay even his own salary, he said.

In honor of emergency management offices across the state, March 21 through March 27 has been declared “Oklahoma Emergency Management Week.”

Over the last decade, the efforts of emergency management officials have brought more than $850 million in disaster aid to Oklahoma, said the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

On Tuesday, the emergency management department will host an event at the state capitol designed to highlight the performance of the state's emergency managers.

In recent years, emergency managers helped Oklahomans during tornadoes, ice storms, wildfires, floods, hazardous materials incidents, school violence incidents, drought conditions and the I-40 bridge collapse, the release states.

“Our job is to keep the government running -- fire, police and emergency services -- during and after an emergency type disaster,” Lehenbauer said.

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