Committee: Emergency Management

Contact: Scott Gerber, Chair - [email protected]

2021 Mission: The mission of the Emergency Management Committee is to provide a liaison between the Association, the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and County and local emergency managers in order to encourage and assist association members to be involved in their local emergency planning process, and to provide feedback to the Association on pertinent emergency management issues and information.

2021 Report: The Emergency Management Committee meets regularly throughout the year and addresses issues as directed by the Board of Directors. During the past 12 months, we have met in person and virtually. Like so many other parts of life, COVID-19 has impacted our committee activity. While we were not able to meet in person for many of our meetings, we were able to utilize virtual meetings to allow more effective participation for committee members located across the state. The committee continues to be active with issues that affect all departments in Minnesota. 

Some of the specific areas the Committee worked on in 2021 include:

• We know that Minnesota continues to have its share of disasters; and in 2021, this continued to be the case. COVID-19 has had the biggest impact. 
• We continued to interact with the COVID-19 Task Force to assist with emergency management areas. 
• We have continued our work with the FAST Team and helped to deploy fire officers across the state to various situations.
• Statewide Mutual Aid Plan and Planning
• The Intrastate Mutual Aid Plan is on the MSFCA website for use. We have been working on updates to the plan.    
• The Plan was used in 2021 assistance with non-line of duty deaths, response to unique fire scenes and with COVID-19 situations.  
• The Field Operations Guide (FOG) for the Statewide Mutual Aid Plan has been updated and is being distributed slower than we would have liked due to the coronavirus. 
• Ongoing awareness training and information to the MSFCA Board, Regional Directors and fire departments continues relating to the Statewide Mutual Aid Plan and various logistic areas. Ongoing plan education and plan maintenance are key components as we progress forward. The goal is to create a system and process that is understood and utilized in times of need by individuals throughout the State. The system and process identify and guide people on the following matters:
1. Mutual aid use in day-to-day response
2. Mutual aid use in regional response
3. Mutual aid use in statewide disaster scenarios
4. Mutual aid used outside of Minnesota (EMAC) 

• Ongoing participation in various state and local committees and task forces.
• Continued development and encouragement of fire chiefs’ involvement in the emergency management process.
• Development and utilization of technology in the emergency management arena. 

The committee is also involved on social media by attempting to keep our key activities/accomplishments posted on Facebook.

Our relationship with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and its representation on our committee has enabled our committee to stay in the forefront in reference to homeland security. 

Stuart Glaser from Stillwater Fire has been actively serving as the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers (AMEM) liaison this past year in order to keep effective and efficient communications. 

The Emergency Management Committee consists of members that serve as representatives of numerous fire service and emergency management organizations throughout the state of Minnesota. Additional organizations represented include: HSEM, DNR, State Fire Marshal, MSP airport and AMEM/MEMA. This cross section of talent on the committee enhances the wide variety of experiences and skills. I would like to thank all the EM Committee members for their hard work this past year, and we will stand ready to face challenges in the future. 

Finally, I would like to remind our membership that our committee information is posted on the MSFCA website. Our committee attempts to provide our members with timely information referencing emergency management issues throughout the state of Minnesota. If any of the MSFCA members are interested in serving on the Emergency Management Committee, please contact Scott Gerber at 952-949-8336. 

2021 Emergency Management Committee Members

• Chair: Scott Gerber, Eden Prairie Fire Department
• Jacob Beauregard, HSEM
• David Burke, MAC Fire, Fire Chief
• Rodger Coppa, Plymouth, Fire Chief
• John Ehret, State Fire Marshal Division
• Jim Flanders, Minnetonka, Assistant Chief
• Stuart Glaser, Stillwater, Fire Chief
• Greg Hayes, Mdewakanton Public Safety, Fire Chief
• David Jensen, Hugo, Deputy Chief
• Brenda Kremer, MAC Emergency Management
• John Kreuser, HSEM, Fire Service Specialist
• Ryan Muchow, Fergus Falls, Fire Chief
• Tim Oland, Department of Natural Resources, Rural Wildland Coordinator
• Greg Peterson, White Bear Lake, Fire Chief
• Kevin Reed, HSEM, Deputy Director
• Kristi Rollwagen, MAC Emergency Management, Emergency Management Chief
• Ulie Seal, Bloomington, Fire Chief
• Chad Stangeland, Moorhead, Assistant Chief

Emergency Management Committee File Library