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Governor Ivey Announces Activation of Statewide Notification System
MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced the activation of a statewide notification system to more quickly alert the public in the event of floods and other disasters. The action follows the governor’s January 13, 2026, state of the state address,...State EMA leadership briefs county leaders on new camp safety and dam safety laws
Keeping people safe - that was the common message in multiple presentations given by Alabama EMA at the Association of County Commissions of Alabama's annual meeting in Orange Beach. The ACCA meeting brings together county officials and decision-makers for multiple days of learning opportunities. The Alabama EMA sent a group...
Alabama EMA Director Jeff Smitherman updates major FEMA funding changes
The way the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distributes money to help with disasters is changing fast - and the Alabama EMA is already doing the work to be sure Alabama gets its fair share of this important federal funding. That was the message that Alabama EMA Director Jeff Smitherman...
Alabama EMA prepares to launch “Ready for Anything” podcast
The Alabama Emergency Management Agency is finalizing Episode 1 of its new podcast - "Ready for Anything." This podcast will focus on disaster scenarios specific to Alabama - some that have happened, some that could happen and a few that you may not have considered. Here's a preview of Episode...
“What if” scenario puts hurricane response to the test
As Hurricane Helene brutally reminded us, hurricanes can have devastating effects well inland - especially when terrain gets involved. While Alabama's coast would obviously be affected by a hurricane, the mountains and hills of northeast Alabama would channel the heavy rain of a slow-moving hurricane into catastrophic flooding and a...
Emergency managers and partners practice for disaster at Plant Farley
Did you know that Alabama is home to two nuclear power plants? They are located in the corners of the state - one is up in northwest Alabama and another, Plant Farley, is located in the southeast corner of the state near Dothan. Plant Farley opened in 1977 and produces...
Emergency managers and other officials gather in Baldwin County to plan for disasters
Division A of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency met this week to discuss various aspects of emergency management, mitigation and response. The meeting was held at the Baldwin County EMA in Robertsdale and lead by AEMA Division Coordinator Steven Huff. AEMA Executive Operations Officer Craig Bolling discussed the new camp...
Alabama EMA participates in Resilience Summit planning meeting
Representatives from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, Colbert County EMA, Lauderdale County EMA and the University of North Alabama met to plan an upcoming Preparedness for Resilience Summit. The upcoming summit in September will bring leaders from the local, county and state level together to discuss effective ways to build...
Crenshaw County EMA Director Elliott Jones retires; Thomas Strickland named replacement
This is a season of change at the Crenshaw County Emergency Management Agency as longtime director Elliott Jones retires and Thomas Strickland steps into the position. Elliott Jones has spent much of his life in public service, beginning with the Luverne Police Department in 1982, where he served in several...
Longtime Sumter County EMA Director Margaret Bishop-Gulley retiring
For almost two decades, Margaret Bishop-Gulley has been working to keep the citizens of Sumter County ready for anything. In her current role as the Sumter County Emergency Management Director, she puts people first and is always ready to be helpful. And being ready for "anything" is an apt description...
Alabama EMA conducts divisional meetings
Staff from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency spent two days this week conducting divisional meetings and training for local, county and state partner agencies. Wednesday's Division E meeting was held in Muscle Shoals in Colbert County. AEMA Field Operations Laura Patterson provided training on Alabama’s Safer Places Act guidelines -...
Alabama EMA visits Task Force One in Mobile
(Mobile) – Officials from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency met with members of an elite emergency rapid-response group based in Mobile called Task Force One. Task Force 1 (TF1) is an expert-level urban search and rescue team based in Mobile and sponsored by Mobile Fire Rescue Department and Saraland Fire. Comprised of search and...