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Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee (MEMC)

The Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee serves as a forum for local emergency managers to discuss and resolve regional issues, problems, projects and activities related to all-hazards emergency management. The MEMC's mission is to foster coordination, communication and cooperation among local emergency management and allied organizations through the development of policies, procedures, educational programs and resource materials related to all-hazards emergency management.

The MEMC membership consists of formal members -- emergency managers from cities and counties in the MARC region, local representatives from the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the National Weather Service, and representatives from state and federal emergency management agencies -- and affiliate members from public, private and non-profit organizations whose scope of work or interests are consistent with the MEMC's mission, such as construction, engineering, health/medical, insurance/risk management, media, resource and mitigation, transportation and utility companies.

Current Projects and Activities

MEMC recommends cash donations toward Moore relief efforts: The Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee urges anyone who wants to contribute to disaster relief efforts ongoing in Oklahoma to donate cash to disaster relief organizations rather than donating goods. “We know people in the Kansas City metro want to help,” said Bob Evans, MEMC Chair, “and cash helps relief organizations to quickly provide people who were affected by the disaster with exactly the help they need most.” MEMC recommends that people who want to help consider donating to reputable organizations of their choice, such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way or local organizations within the communities affected.

Les Boatright, senior manager for emergency preparedness for KCP&L.

Pillars of Preparedness award nominations: On Thursday, March 14, 2013, the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee’s Citizen Education Subcommittee presented its first “Pillars of Preparedness” award to Les Boatright, senior manager for emergency preparedness for KCP&L.

“Les has demonstrated above-and-beyond efforts toward all-hazards preparedness in the Kansas City metropolitan area,” said Eric Ramsey, division chief of the Lenexa Fire Department. “Les’ devotion to sharing his knowledge and expertise of electrical safety, coupled with his sacrifice of time and energy, truly makes him a proven ‘Pillar of Preparedness.’”

The Citizen Education Subcommittee developed the Pillars of Preparedness program to give public recognition to individuals and organizations that contribute in significant ways to the whole of community preparedness of the Kansas City Region. Nominations for others who meet the award criteria may be submitted online.

Preparedness website: MEMC's Citizen Readiness Committee has developed a disaster preparedness website, www.preparemetrokc.org.

Model Ordinance Guidance for Severe Storm Protection Regulation: MEMC was awarded a pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant from FEMA to examine the issues surrounding severe storm protection regulation and provide model ordinance guidance to local communities. Download the Model Ordinance Guidance document>

Warning Systems: The MEMC has been very active in establishing a network in the Kansas City region for warning local governments and the public in the event of approaching severe weather. The components of this warning system are the Metropolitan Emergency Radio System (MERS) and the Emergency Manager's Weather Information Network.

Prepare Metro KC: The MEMC introduced a new series of seven citizen preparedness videos in March 2012. The series uses two characters, Disaster and Preparedness, to provide emergency preparedness information in a lighthearted way. Fun and education for the entire family! Each Monday a new episode will roll out, so check back each week. Watch all of the episodes at our YouTube Channel.

Project Community Alert: In May 2002, MEMC began Project Community Alert, a campaign to distribute 100,000 weather radios in the metropolitan area. MEMC partners with the Price Chopper grocery store chain to the radios available to area residents at a special price.

Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan: MEMC supported the development of a regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2004 (to be updated in 2009) and is currently developing the Kansas City Metro Area Storm Shelter Plan.