A new era has officially begun with Dallas County’s Emergency Management Agency, as AJ Seely has begun his tenure as the new Coordinator.
Seely previously held the same position in Chickasaw County in northeastern Iowa, and succeeds Barry Halling as only the second coordinator in Dallas County history. He’s excited for the unique challenge presented by working in a county where the rural and urban areas are both so prevalent, though it’s one he feels he’s prepared for. During the interview process, the hiring committee emphasized moving emergency management forward in the County, and Seely says that’s definitely a priority of his with taking over the position.
“The biggest thing for me is whole community preparedness, which is incredibly vague. But it is kind of a collaboration between citizens, government, and also industry or commercial businesses, and kind of getting everybody on board with doing their little part for preparedness. And as a whole community we come together and are more resilient for the next disaster, the next incident, whatever it might be.”
Seely adds, people can sign up to receive emergency alerts on their cell phones, and Dallas County hosts one such program. They utilize the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS), and people can subscribe to receive alerts whenever emergency management is in effect. Click the link below to view the Dallas County WENS website and sign up for the service. He also reminds people he will be in contact with Raccoon Valley Radio’s Severe Weather Action Team whenever there is a weather emergency in Dallas County. To hear more from Seely, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.