Evans Named New Mobile County Emergency Management Agency Director
Posted on: Aug 8th, 2023 | News and AnnouncementsPress Releasesfeatured news
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – The Mobile County Emergency Management Agency Authority Board Executive Committee announced Mobile County’s new EMA director, Mike Evans, during a news conference held Aug. 8 at Mobile County’s Emergency Operations Center.
Evans was promoted from the role of Deputy Director upon the retirement of Ronnie Adair, who served as Emergency Management Agency Director since 2009.
MCEMA Authority Board Executive Committee Chair, Saraland’s Deputy Fire Chief Shayne Lovitte, thanked Adair and all previous directors for their leadership and service prior to the announcement of Evans as Mobile County’s seventh full-time MCEMA Director.
Lovitte said the MCEMA Authority Board’s decision to hire Evans was unanimous. He briefly described Evans’ experience, leadership, numerous credentials, and education. “Mike Evans’ more than 20 years in emergency management and his almost 40 years of service in the U.S. Army National Guard represent a tremendous asset to the residents of Mobile County,” said Lovitte.
Evans concurrently serves as a U.S. Army National Guard Sustainment/Logistics Officer at the rank of Brigadier General; he commands the 135th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
Evans thanked the MCEMA Board, Mobile County Commission, and others for the opportunity to lead emergency operations. He briefly explained his goals of effective preparation, dedicated outreach, efficient emergency response, cultivating relationships to ensure peak functioning, and building/maintaining the EMA team moving forward. He summarized these as helping Mobile County to BE PREPARED, BE INFORMED, and BE RESILIENT.
“It’s not a matter of if MCEMA will be needed, but when,” said Evans. “The work of Mobile County Emergency Management Agency is crucial to Mobile County’s resilience in the face of storms or other emergencies and I look forward to leading MCEMA as its new director,” he added.
Evans announced that a new Deputy Director of MCEMA will be named soon. He introduced staff, explained roles, and announced that Sherry Crush has been promoted to Director of Plans and Operations with the primary responsibility of preparing, equipping, and manning the Mobile County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during disasters.
Evans also announced a major overhaul to Mobile County Emergency Management Agency’s website (www.mcema.net) and an upgrade to MCEMA’s app, which now streams the locally broadcast emergency/weather radio content. The app is available from either the Google Play or the Apple store.
“Mobile County Commission has the utmost confidence in Mike Evans to lead Mobile County Emergency Management Agency. He’s already proven himself an exemplary leader and we look forward to seeing what he’ll accomplish in this new role,” said District 1 Commissioner Merceria Ludgood, who spoke on behalf of the Commission at the news conference.
The announcement event concluded with a media tour of Mobile County’s Emergency Operations Center.
ABOUT MOBILE COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY:
Established in 1952 in response to Federal, State, and local guidelines, the Mobile County Commission passed resolutions in 1984, that made the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency (MCEMA) the office of government to act as the emergency planning district in Mobile County. MCEMA has the primary responsibility to plan and prepare for all emergencies that may affect Mobile County, coordinate and communicate, and mobile resources to respond swiftly and efficiently when needed. The Mobile County EMA Authority Board is comprised of County Commissioners and municipalities' mayors or designees. Its executive committee members represent the County’s mayors of municipalities (Shayne Lovitte, Chair), Mobile County (Eddie Kerr), and the City of Mobile (Jim DeLapp).
IMAGES FROM THE AUG. 8, 2023 NEWS CONFERENCE:
Local media during the news conference Q&A
Evans addressing the media and guests during the news conference
Mobile County EMA Authority Board Chair, Saraland's Deputy Fire Chief Shayne Lovitte during the announcement