Safety Council Meeting
August 16, 2017
Michelle Sowers
Emergency Management Specialist
Ohio Emergency Management Agency
Ohio's Emergency Management system was established under Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 5502, which provides for a state emergency management agency, requiring an emergency management director or coordinator and an Emergency Operations Plan for each county. This law also establishes the legal protection and authority of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) to work in times of disaster. In this presentation, you will learn:
- The Role of the LEPC
- The Role of the SERC
- Ohio EMA and LEPC Partnership
Michelle Sowers is an emergency management professional who currently works as a Regional Liaison for the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (OEMA). She provides assistance to eighteen counties in Northeast Ohio to coordinate emergency planning and exercise development between the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) and the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Her role with OEMA also allows her to provide support for a variety of state and county emergency management operations such as Emergency Operations Centers (EOC), public outreach and training, and on-scene incident response.
Prior to her employment with OEMA, Michelle earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Penn State University and a Master's of Public Administration degree with a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management from Florida State University. She was previously employed as a meteorologist and natural hazards planner with the Florida Division of Emergency Management.