On February 1, 2005 the Phelps County Emergency Management Agency combined with Gosper County Emergency Management to form the Region 15 Emergency Management Agency. On April 1, 2005 Frontier County also joined forces with the agency. Hitchcock County joined into the Region on October 1, 2007. The agency is made up of one full time Director, a part-time Administrative Deputy and four part time Deputy Directors for each county. Our support staff consists of a Public Information Officer and several Volunteer Weather Spotters.
Patrick Gerdes currently serves as the Director of the Agency. In July of 2003 he was appointed to the Phelps County Directors position. Prior to the appointment to Director, he served as a Deputy Director for Phelps County for 2 years. He has 22+ years of fire service, and emergency medical experience. Director Gerdes is a Nebraska Advanced Certified Emergency Manager, Nebraska Certified EMS Instructor and is trained to the Operations Level of Hazardous Materials. He is currently the President-Elect and has served as the West Central Area and the Central Area Representative on the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Association of Emergency Managers. Pat was awarded the "2007 Emergency Management Professional of the Year" by the Nebraska Association of Emergency Management.
Art Johnsen is currently serving as a Deputy Director for the Agency. Art was appointed to the position in July of 2003 after stepping down as Director in January of 2003. Art has a background in the military, fire service, and law enforcement. He is also a Nebraska Certified Emergency Manager. He will have duties and jurisdicition in all of the counties of the Region 15 area.
Dan Rupp also is serving as a Deputy Director for the Region. Dan is also the Frontier County Sheriff and will have Emergency Management duties and jursisdiction throughout the Region as well. Dan has been very instrumental in the Frontier County Emergency Management Program prior to his appoinment to the Region 15 EMA. He also has a background of fire service, EMS and has received his Basic Certification as a Nebraska Emergency Manager.
Dennis Ocken is another Deputy Director for Region 15 EMA. Dennis also serves as the Gosper County Sheriff and will be representing Emergency Management in all of the counties making up Region 15 EMA. Dennis has a long background in law enforcement and is looking forward to being involved with the Region 15 EMA.
Kyle Clapp is also a recent employee to be added to the Region 15 staff. Kyle will serve as the Deputy Director for Hitchcock County. Kyle is a member of the Culbertson Fire Dept. and is employed by the Nebraska Department of Corrections in McCook. Deputy Clapp recently completed the Nebraska Basic Certification program and also has a background in Public Information.
Jill Schmidt recently joined the agency as the part time Administrative Deputy for the Agency. Jill is a Ragan native and comes to the agency with a background in law enforcement after being employed with the Lincoln Police Department for 10 years. She has a B.S. in Psychology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Jill is responsible for the daily office functions of the office and will be utilized to handle situations in the absence of the Director or Deputy Directors.
Kendall Mosely serves as the Public Information Officer for Phelps County. Kendall's duties would include the public dissemination of information during a disaster. Kendall also serves as the Administrative Assistant to the Phelps County Board of Supervisors.
Marge Melroy currently serves as the Secretary for the So. Central Region Local Emergency Planning Committee.
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