Beaver County Commissioners Honored for Outstanding Support of Emergency Management

Oklahoma Emergency Management Association

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TULSA -- Beaver County Commissioners Richard Cowen, Brad Raven, and CJ Rose were recognized for their support of and participation in emergency management activities when the Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (OEMA) presented this year’s Public Officials Award. The presentation was made today during the annual emergency management conference.

Beaver County is fortunate to have three county commissioners who understand and are dedicated to the importance of an emergency management program. In the last two years alone there have been countless examples of the commissions’ tireless commitment to the program during winter storms, flooding, severe thunderstorms accompanied by tornadoes, storms delivering hail so thick it lowered the temperatures into the 30s in August and wildfires and hazardous materials spills that required evacuation of more than 150 homes and 400 people.

Most recently, commissioners Cowen, Raven and Rose worked continuously during the blizzard this past March. For three days they assisted not only Beaver County residents but also travelers who found themselves stranded on roadways. They opened highways regardless of whether it was county or state and helped people who were stranded within their homes. Because of these efforts, and the preparations already in place, there were no serious injuries or deaths and all needs were met.

“Thanks to the efforts of the commissioners Beaver County Emergency Management enjoys a dedication to the mission of preparing for, responding to, recovering from and mitigating against disasters,” said OEMA President and Oklahoma County Emergency Management Director David Barnes.“With this award we recognize another success story in Oklahoma emergency management,” he added.

Others honored were Clint Wagstaff, Lawton-Comanche County Emergency Management Director with the Emergency Management Director of the Year Award and Ron Flanagan, with Flanagan & Associates, with the Outstanding Contributor to Emergency Management Award.

Additionally, Oklahoma Certified Emergency Manager (OCEM) certifications were awarded to the following Oklahoma emergency managers:

Oklahoma County Emergency Management Director David Barnes;

Mayes County Assistant Emergency Management Director Michael Dunham;

Oklahoma State University Emergency Management Coordinator Ron Hill;

Mayes County Emergency Management Director John Janzen;

Pocola Emergency Management Director John Limbocker;

University of Central Oklahoma Emergency Management Coordinator Norman Nievas;

Cushing Emergency Management Director Bob Noltensmeyer;

Osage County Emergency Management Director Howard M “Mike” Pattison;

Yukon Emergency Management Director Frosty Peak; and,

William S. “Steve” Gluck, CBRNE Specialist/Disaster Preparedness Officer, United States Army/Ft. Sill.

The following emergency managers renewed their OCEM certification:

Custer County Emergency Management Director Mike Galloway;

University of Health Sciences Center Deputy Emergency Management Director William Gebur;

Ada-Pontotoc County Emergency Management Director Chad Letellier;

Kingfisher-Kingfisher County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis;

Sperry Emergency Management Director Michael Smith;

Eufaula-McIntosh County Emergency Management Director Harry Trottier;

Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Director Gary Dotson;

Tahlequah-Cherokee County Assistant Emergency Management Director Larry “Mike” Underwood; and,

Tahlequah-Cherokee County Emergency Management Command Team Members Steve Ford, Daniel L. Gross and Marsha Gross.

“These individuals represent some of Oklahoma’s and the nation’s best emergency management efforts,” said Barnes. “They make a difference by helping to save lives and protect property before, during and after emergencies and disasters.”

The OEMA event was held in conjunction with the Annual Emergency Management Conference, sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

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