The Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency recently announced the promotion of one current member and the addition of one new member to its staff of volunteers. Both bring an expertise that will benefit the people of the county, according to EMA Coordinator Scott Anderson.

EMA volunteer Danny Neal is promoted to the Deputy Director of the agency. His pursuit of a career within the emergency management field over the last few years has included completing numerous IEMA sponsored courses.  Neal has put his knowledge into practice by completing the preparation for training exercises, as well as focusing on volunteer recruitment and retention, some of his specialties. His expansive weather knowledge and training ability is an attribute that is impossible to pass up at this time, according to Anderson. "His ability to hit the ground running on the first day is rare, especially from a volunteer. I look forward to helping him with whatever guidance he may need to expand and mold our current roster of volunteers.” Anderson continued.

“Danny’s extensive weather knowledge and forecasting abilities is recognized by the National Weather Service, allowing him to teach the sanctioned NWS severe weather spotting classes. That is a huge benefit to the county. His work as a severe weather spotter in the field has generated thousands of followers, and that expertise will be available to us.”   Danny is currently a volunteer with the Paxton Emergency Services.

Iroquois EMA is also adding Jason Madden to the roster. Jason is a full-time emergency management professional, as he currently works as the Emergency Management Training Coordinator for the University of Illinois. He is also a member of Paxton Emergency Services. Madden has completed both the IEMA-OHS and FEMA Professional Development Series and has also earned accreditation as an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager.

Anderson stated about Jason, “Having someone with Jason’s abilities within our staff to design and write the complex training exercises, will allow for our agency to hold more training with the fire, EMS, and law enforcement departments county wide. That is one of the primary functions of any emergency management agency as those training exercises allow our first responders to be ready and able to handle the different situations that are presented to them every day.”

94.1 WGFA