May VIRTUAL Luncheon- Managing Disasters: The Emergency Operations Center Experience
Managing Disasters: The Emergency Operations Center Experience
Major disasters can be remarkably destructive and require an extraordinary effort by local, state and federal officials as well as numerous non-government non-profit and for-profit organizations working quickly and coordinated with each other to restore normalcy to a world turned upside down. The hub for this effort is the Emergency Operations Center where representatives from dozens of organizations come together under one roof to coordinate the response. Please join us as we briefly describe the structure of emergency management in Sonoma County and its response to recent emergencies.
Samuel (Sam) Wallis is Community Alert & Warning Manager for the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management. In this role, he develops capabilities for emergency alert and notification, conducts training and outreach programs, and in the event of a disaster coordinates emergency notification. Since joining Sonoma County Sam has participated in six floods, the 2014 Napa Earthquake, the 2017 Sonoma Complex Fire, the 2019 Kincade Fire and numerous smaller emergencies.
Sam joined the County of Sonoma team in 2014 after retiring from the United States Army. In his prior career he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel serving over 27 years with the Infantry and the Army Corps of Engineers in a variety of assignments and countries including Panama, Kosovo and Iraq. Sam Wallis’ career had many highlights including numerous commands and culminated as the Chief of Plans for an Infantry Division.
Sam was awarded the Expert Infantry Badge, the Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), the Bronze deFleury medal, the Combat Action Badge and the Bronze Star.
Sam holds a Masters of Science degree in Emergency Management from Walden University and is a 1991 graduate from Sonoma State University with a degree in English.
Sam currently resides in Sebastopol with his wife, Erin, and son, Morgan.
Thursday, May 21, 2020 at Noon
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85782140159
Dial by your location: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Meeting ID: 857 8214 0159
An interactive session will be included at the end of the presentation, and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions. You can submit questions by filling our our form, linked HERE.