August: Emergency Management Awareness Month

5:39 p.m. Aug. 6, 2025

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

You probably don’t think much about emergency managers – until the day you desperately need one.

They’re not the ones giving news briefings after a tornado or standing in front of a camera during a wildfire. More often, they’re in the background, making sure evacuation routes are clear, shelters are ready, and first responders have what they need to do their jobs.

This August, the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) launched the inaugural National Emergency Management Awareness Month to shine a light on this often-overlooked profession. The goal is simple: help the public understand what emergency managers do and why their work matters every single day – not just during a crisis.

Preparedness Is a Team Effort

Here at home, Moore County Emergency Management works quietly but constantly to prepare for everything from severe weather to hazardous material spills.

“Emergency management is more than just responding to a crisis – it’s about preparation, coordination, and resilience,” said Jason Deal, Metro Moore County Public Safety Director. “To me, it means being proactive, building strong partnerships, and ensuring our community is ready to face whatever challenges may come.”

When a tornado warning flashes across your phone, someone at the county level has already been in touch with the National Weather Service, coordinated with law enforcement, checked shelter status, and made sure utility crews are on standby. During winter storms, they monitor roads, manage emergency warming centers, and keep communication lines open with the public.

And when the immediate danger passes, they’re still there – helping clean up debris, documenting damage for FEMA assistance, and working on long-term fixes to keep the community safer next time.

More Than Just ‘Responding’

For emergency managers, the real work starts long before – and continues long after – the moment disaster hits. They map out hazards in advance, build relationships with community partners, stockpile resources, and run drills so that when something does happen, everyone knows their role.

In Moore County, that might mean planning for the influx of visitors during special events in Lynchburg, or preparing for the possibility of flooding along our creeks and low-lying areas.

“In a rural area like Moore County, emergency management is vital. We may not have the same resources as larger municipalities, so we have to work smarter, train harder, and rely on our community ties,” Deal said. “It’s about protecting lives, preserving infrastructure, and recovering stronger every time.

“A lot of what we do is planning and mitigation, so when disaster does strike, it lessens the burdens on the responders, citizens, and the county financially.”

Advocating for Resources

The awareness push comes at a critical time. Earlier this year, FEMA abruptly canceled its BRIC program, which funded projects to make communities more resilient before disasters hit. That decision sent $882 million in unused funds back to the Treasury.

IAEM is now leading the charge to get that money – and the program – restored. In June, members visited 54 congressional offices to push for more substantial investment in preparedness and recovery work.

A Profession Built on Principles

Emergency management has its own set of guiding principles – eight of them – developed with FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute back in 2007. They’re a reminder that the job isn’t just technical. It’s also deeply human, focused on protecting people, property, and the places they call home.

The eight guiding principles are comprehensive, progressive, risk-driven, integrated, collaborative, coordinated, flexible, and professional.

These principles guide emergency managers in effectively preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.

The Bottom Line for Moore County

Most of us hope we’ll never need an emergency manager. But the truth is, when something goes wrong – whether it’s a flash flood, a pandemic, or a massive power outage – we want them on our side.

This month is about giving them the recognition, and reminding everyone – here in Moore County and beyond – that the best time to prepare for a disaster is always before it happens.