Committee: Emergency Management

Contact: Scott Gerber, Chair – [email protected]

2024 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.

2024 Report:
The EMC meets regularly throughout the year and addresses issues as directed by the board of directors. During the past 12 months, we have met in a hybrid fashion. We have met in person and utilized the virtual option to allow more effective participation for committee members across the state. The committee continues to be active with issues affecting all Minnesota departments. Minnesota continues to have its share of disasters, and in 2024, this continued to be the case.

Some of the specific areas the EMC worked on in 2024 include:

• We have continued our work with the Firefighter Assist Search Team (FAST) and helped deploy fire officers across the state to various situations. 

• Statewide Mutual Aid Plan and Planning. 

• We have continued to monitor and maintain the Intrastate Mutual Aid plan. 

• The Plan was used in 2024 with response to flooding events and other unique fire/emergency scenes, non-line of duty deaths, and line of duty deaths. 

• 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 identifies and guides 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)

•  A Field Operations Guide (FOG) for the Statewide Mutual Aid Plan is available. I was last updated in 2019. If you do not have an updated FOG and would like them for your department, please reach out to a committee member or a State Fire Marshal Division Fire Safety Specialist. 

• 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.

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, 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 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. 

 2024 Emergency Management Committee Members:

• Chair: Scott Gerber, Fire Chief, Eden Prairie

• Jacob Beauregard, HSEM

• Rodger Coppa, Fire Chief, Plymouth

• Stuart Glaser, Fire Chief, Stillwater

• Greg Hayes, MESB

• Ross Hoernemann, Captain, Hugo

• David Jensen, State Fire Marshal Division

• Brenda Kremer, MAC

• Mike Meyer, Fire Chief, Lakeville

• Ryan Muchow, Fire Chief, Fergus Falls

• Tim Oland, DNR

• Greg Peterson, Fire Chief, White Bear Lake

• Ulie Seal, Fire Chief, Bloomington

• Chad Stangeland, Division Chief, Moorhead

• Mark Watczak, Fire Chief, MAC

Emergency Management Committee File Library