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Citation honors outstanding public information work in emergency management
News Release
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
TULSA --- George Earl Johnson Jr., communications director for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS), was recognized for his dedicated commitment to keeping the public informed with the 2005 Ben Frizzell Memorial Award.
The citation was presented Wednesday evening by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) during an awards banquet for the state’s emergency managers.
The award recognizes an individual who provides outstanding service in the area of emergency public information – something Johnson has done for nearly a quarter of a century. During the last decade alone, he led disaster relief efforts for OKDHS during the April 1995 Murrah Building bombing, the May 3, 1999 and May 8-9, 2003 tornadoes, as well as two ice storms in 2000 and 2002.
But Johnson’s emergency public information work never stops with his own department. Anytime Oklahoma faces disaster, Johnson one of the first to provide assistance in the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the Joint Information Center (JIC).
OEM Director Albert Ashwood called Johnson’s ability to deal with the media, the public all the while creating a team atmosphere in emergency, disaster times immeasurable. “Whatever the crisis, he always brings a calming force as he works to keep the flow of information going,” said Ashwood. “He exemplifies the role of communicator in emergency situations not only to the public but to his colleagues as well.”
In December 2000, after crippling ice storms struck the state Johnson coordinated disaster relief communications so that more than 6,000 Oklahoma families could receive disaster food stamp assistance. He directed the campaign for the Y2K Contingency Plan that continues to serve as a guideline for recovering from a real-world disaster.
Following the May 8-9, 2003 Tornadoes Johnson once again provided leadership in the JIC as state officials worked to keep the public informed during disaster response and recovery operations.
Johnson also assists OEM in the delivery of training to public information officials all across the state. While he seldom stops to accept the commendations from others he always works diligently to ensure others are recognized for their efforts.
The Ben Frizzell Memorial Award is presented in honor of the late OEM PIO who served the agency from 1995-2000.
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