Julie Davis
jdavis@cherryroad.com
At the conclusion of the April 8 regular meeting of the Otoe County Board of Commissioners Otoe County Emergency Management Director Gregg Goebel reported on two recent recognitions he and Assistant Director Steve Cody have received.
The first was being part of the team that received the 2024 Nebraska Association of Emergency Management (NAEM) Support Award. Goebel and Cody are part of the Southeast Nebraska Incident Management Assistance Team (SEN-IMAT), along with Chad Korte, Cassie Cox, Jean Engle, Lisa Wiegand, John McKee, James Davidsaver, Amanda Burki, Rayce Hoole, Mark Hosking, Renee Critser, Jeff Rowell, Gary Peterson, Colt Farringer, Brian Kirkendall, Kristy Richardson, and Megan Buckley.
“This team is the true embodiment of service, collaboration, and operational excellence,” according to a nomination letter received by NAEM. “Together, they’ve led the charge in developing and conducting realistic, scenario-based training exercises, refining Standard Operating Guidelines, and fostering seamless coordination between local, state, and federal partners.”
“Their commitment to readiness is not just in planning—it’s in action,” the letter continued. “Their work has empowered first responders, emergency management personnel, and government officials like—ensuring that when disaster strikes, our teams are not only ready but confident, capable and connected.”
The second recognition was a letter sent to the Otoe County commissioners from Pawnee County, thanking the Otoe County EMA for its assistance in a search for a 50-year-old woman during freezing weather in February.
Goebel said the thermal drone that the EMA loaned to Pawnee County was instrumental in locating an open door on a building where the woman was later located by search teams on the ground, curled up next to a portable heater.
“We have found that fewer people are willing to help to assist others,” the Pawnee County letter read. “Having neighbors that are willing, ready and able to answer our call with ‘what do you need’ ‘how can we help?’ makes it more likely for a positive outcome in each incident.”
