National Emergency Management Awareness Month recognizes vital, behind-the-scenes work to keep communities safe

Aug 19, 2025
| Posted in
Safety & Security
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Inaugural campaign highlights essential role emergency managers play in safeguarding lives, property and community infrastructure.

 

The Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee (MEMC) and the U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) celebrated the inaugural National Emergency Management Awareness Month. Observed throughout August, the initiative's goal is to highlight the critical work emergency managers perform to keep communities safe during weather-related events and other emergencies.

“Emergency management professionals work daily to ensure people, businesses and communities are prepared to respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. Often unsung heroes that go unnoticed by the public, emergency managers at all levels, in all sectors, are key to building resilience.” 
 

Matt May, Emergency Management Director, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

Emergency managers throughout the year engage elected officials, private sector leaders, nonprofit organizations and community stakeholders to educate them about emergency management programs and the profession's impact. And the MEMC encourages residents, businesses and local leaders to learn more about regional emergency management efforts and reach out to their local emergency manager before a crisis.
 

“Large emergencies, whether planned or not, require coordination and support of first responders. We’re often busier during nonemergency days building connections to ensure first responders know each other and coordinate efficiently to save lives, protect property and protect the environment.”
 

Chris Carroll, Emergency Manager , Kansas City, Missouri

IAEM’s website offers information and videos on the emergency management profession and work emergency managers do behind the scenes. PrepareMetroKC provides tips and resources on disaster preparedness and a list of local emergency managers in the Kansas City region. Enrolling in national, regional and local alerts through your smart phone is another great way to stay informed.

Convened by the Mid-America Regional Council, the MEMC 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. 

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