Public Safety to Implement Local Emergency Preparedness Plans in Southeast VPSO Communities

March 08, 2017
Wednesday PM

(SitNews) Juneau, Alaska - Through a new partnership with Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM), Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s (Central Council) Public Safety department will be developing and implementing local emergency preparedness plans in the Southeast Alaska communities served under the State’s Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program.

The collaboration project is funded by the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program supports the implementation of the National Preparedness System by providing federal grants to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.

The partnership between the DHS&EM and Central Council is the first of its kind that creates a unique tribal jurisdiction in Southeast Alaska that will allow the Tribe to seek further emergency planning funding. Initially, the State DHS&EM will provide Central Council $80,000 in salary reimbursement through July 1, 2017 and an additional $160,000 through July 1, 2018.

“Oftentimes the focus of emergency planning is on larger communities, but it’s just as important that our rural communities have emergency plans in place for prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery,” said Public Safety Manager Jason Wilson.

VPSO Sergeant Corey Padron has been promoted to the position of Emergency Management Coordinator to help partner communities in Southeast Alaska develop their local emergency preparedness plans. Sgt. Padron has been a VPSO with Central Council for five years and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fire Service Administration, Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice and Emergency Management, and is a qualified Alaska Interior Firefighter I and Emergency Medical Technician II with the South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department. He also instructs at the Village Police Officer Academy in Bethel and the Alaska Law Enforcement Training Academy in Sitka where he teaches law enforcement subjects as well as Emergency Trauma Technician and CPR courses.

Sgt. Padron will perform the duties of his new position while continuing to serve as the VPSO in Saxman where he lives with his wife Lorraine Richmond, a Guardian Flight Paramedic, and their three children – Autumn (12), Jack (11), and Lily (9).

"I am thrilled to be working with our partner communities on this important project," said VPSO Sgt. Padron. "As the Emergency Management Coordinator, I plan to work directly with other VPSOs and partner communities to first review and update any existing plans, create additional plans as necessary, and ensure everyone identified in each community’s plan understands their role and has the appropriate training to perform their duties. I will also be focusing on identifying training opportunities and grants to help Southeast Alaska’s communities increase their disaster resiliency."

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

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