By Kyle Johnson—
DELAWARE COUNTY, Ind.—February 20-26th is Emergency Management Appreciation Week in Indiana.
The Delaware County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCEMA) is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing countywide disaster prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation plans. It is also responsible for and coordinates the activities of the County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The EOC, when activated, is a central location where representatives of local government and private sector agencies convene during disaster situations to make decisions, set priorities, and coordinate resources for response and recovery.
Most recently, the EOC hosted multiple daily virtual briefings for the winter storm of February 2nd through the 4th, with over 20 individuals from local government agencies participating. DCEMA also has played a vital role in helping coordinate and share information related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including setting up and maintaining both a local COVID-19 Information Hub and a Vaccine Distribution Hub, procuring and distributing PPE to local first responders. DCEMA also hosted and continues to host various community healthcare virtual meetings to keep information flowing between different organizations.
DCEMA works regularly with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and the Indiana District 6 EMA Coalition on continuous planning and exercise workshops for state-wide disaster plans that are to be implemented into Delaware County. DCEMA also manages and oversees Delaware County’s CERT program and coordinates the use of the community’s Outdoor Warning Sirens.
In 2021, DCEMA responded to a total of 101 calls for service, including 44 vehicle accidents, 22 fire/hazmat incidents, 11 search and rescue, and 20 administrative service calls. The services provided in these calls vary depending on the incident but typically involve traffic control, incident management and documentation, small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAVs/drone) flights for scene documentation, or search and rescue. DCEMA maintains multiple assets and resources for mobile deployment to field incidents.
These include a 25kw generator and scene lighting trailer, a large mobile EOC trailer, a traffic control trailer with cones and road barriers, and a Tactical Support Unit vehicle that provides on-scene rehabilitation services for first responders. In addition, DCEMA also has several rapid deployment inflatable tents that can provide short to medium-range shelter for field operations. As part of continuing Local Emergency Planning Committee initiatives, DCEMA recently purchased and distributed hazmat spill containment kits to local volunteer fire departments.
“The staff of DCEMA have proven themselves to be an incredible asset to our community; they take public safety very seriously and bring a high level of professionalism to our county. My job is easier knowing I have them to count on during any type of incident we may face.” — Delaware County Commissioner Shannon Henry
Meet Your Emergency Managers
John Coutinho is the Director of Delaware County Emergency Management, previously serving as the deputy director for five years. Starting at age 15, John has worked in public safety his entire career. He first joined Albany Emergency Medical Service as a cadet and spent the next 15 years there. At 18, he also joined the Albany Police Reserves and the Albany Fire Department, earning the rank of Captain in his 20 years of fire service. John attended and graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy Class #2014-107. While spending the last 16 years as a Hospital Police Officer with Indiana University Health Police Department, he has still been an Albany Reserve Officer.
He also currently serves as Deputy Commander of the Delaware County Hazmat Team as a Hazmat Technician Specialist. John was deployed along with other Delaware County staff to Hurricane Harvey disaster response. Throughout his career, he has received several commendations, including Albany EMS cadet of the year, Albany EMS Volunteer of the Year, Albany Fire Dept life-saving award for auto extrication. John serves on several boards and committees such as the Emergency Management Advisory Council, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Safety Committee for Delaware County, Safe Schools Committee, and the District 6 EMA Coalition & Health Care Coalition. John also is a member of Lions Club International, Knights of Columbus, and Muncie Pastoral Council. In John’s free time, he enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting, and watching his kids play sports.
Cory Kissick has served as the County’s Emergency Management Deputy Director since July of 2020. Before DCEMA, Cory served as a supervisor and training officer for the Delaware County Emergency Communication Center (911). Following his great-grandfather, grandfathers, and father’s footsteps, Cory currently serves as a fifth-generation firefighter with the Albany Fire Department as a Captain and a training officer. He also serves as a reserve officer with the Albany Police Department. His memberships include the Delaware County Hazmat Team, Safety Committee for Delaware County, Safe Schools Committee, Homeland Security District 6 EMA & Health Care Coalition, and is the Local Emergency Planning Committee secretary. Cory has been recognized as a NASH 102.5 Hometown Hero and a 2015 and 2019 firefighter of the year. He holds two life-saving awards for CPR and auto extrication. In his free time, Cory enjoys being outdoors, fishing on his boat and being a dad.
Kyle Johnson has a dual role with Delaware County as the County Chief Information Officer and the Logistics Section Chief for Emergency Management. He also oversees the Office of Information and GIS Services, based out of the EOC. While supporting DCEMA for over 20 years, he has responded to various incidents, including severe winter storms, multiple tornados, and flooding events. He brings GIS and other technologies to the DCEMA response by maintaining web-based map applications for incident management and the GIS data integrated into the 911 dispatch center. Kyle developed one of the first web-based GIS rapid damage assessment applications used in the State, utilized for the significant tornado damage in Grant County in 2013 and the small tornado that hit Muncie in 2017. He serves on the County Hazmat team, as the president of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and as the vice-chair of the Emergency Management Advisory Council. Kyle is a photographer and enjoys many outdoor activities, including fishing, cycling on the Cardinal Greenway, and hiking in his spare time.
Heidi Knuckles is the Office Manager for Emergency Management. In addition to being the voice on the other end of every call to EMA and keeping the office operating smoothly daily, she makes sure that staff meets all training and reporting requirements as required by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. She also conducts a weekly outdoor warning siren verification program with a group of community volunteers to ensure the sirens are functioning. During EOC operations, Heidi serves as the Financial Section Chief and is responsible for financial tracking and accounting related to emergency and disaster response. Outside of work, Heidi likes to watch her kid’s sporting events, coaches volleyball and has a small family farm with chickens, turkeys, pigs, and lambs.
Delaware County’s Special Response Team (SRT) is a group of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trained volunteers that assist Delaware County EMA when additional personnel is needed for incidents. SRT Volunteers assist with traffic control at incidents and events, pilot sUAVs, assist in search & rescue emergencies, storm spot, provide HAM radio support and staffs the Tactical Support Unit vehicle that provides equipment and supplies for the rehabilitation of first responders. SRT members also put in countless hours training civilians in FEMAs CERT program annually. SRT members attend multiple training opportunities every year to keep their skills sharp and ready to respond when called. There were 5,331 hours logged for 2021 by 24 volunteers. Of the incidents responded to by the SRT Team, 17 were sUAV/Drone deployments, 16 rehabilitation activities, 58 traffic control activities, and 36 incident management support calls.
Visit DCEMA’s website at www.dcema.org for various resources on preparing your family and workplace for disasters. Be sure to follow DCEMA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for up-to-date information.
