EMA director has become vital position
The resignation of Phillip Prater on Monday leaves the county with a void at the helm of its Emergency Management Agency.
Prater gave the county six months of dedicated service before realizing the job was too much for one person to handle on a part-time basis. In stepping down, Prater was straightforward about the county’s needs and the fact he firmly believes Warren County should make the commitment to hire a full-time EMA director.
Prater’s input is certainly appreciated and commissioners on the Safety Committee listened to his advice Monday night. The next step is to evaluate what Warren County needs in terms of an Emergency Management director and make the appropriate moves to answer those needs.
It was pointed out by several commissioners and Prater himself that Warren County has been fortunate to have avoided any sort of major disaster. In a day when Homeland Security deserves top priority, and a terrorist attack could potentially lurk around any corner, county officials and the incoming EMA director must make sure Warren County is prepared. By all accounts, we are not at such a point yet.
That should be cause for alarm, although it’s difficult to determine if commissioners have a true sense of urgency. It’s all too easy to think a terrorist attack will never strike Warren County. It’s more pleasant to believe a full-scale natural disaster will continue to miss the place we call home.
But sooner or later, and we all hope it’s much later, our luck will run out. And when that happens, it will be up to our Emergency Management Agency to guide us through the difficult aftermath.
It’s with that in mind we urge commissioners to address the vacant EMA director position with utmost seriousness. The Standard is confident they will use appropriate judgment in determining if the job should be upgraded to full-time, or remain a part-time position.
As long as the best interest and the safety of Warren County residents is the driving force behind whatever decision is made, we will be on the right track.