Carter County EMA introduces new director, offers school support after Helene response

Carter County Emergency Management Agency representatives introduced themselves at the Elizabethton Board of Education's September meeting and offered to increase collaboration with schools on preparedness and safety programs.

Major Patty Woodby introduced the pair and asked one to speak. Kathy Ummerkin, introduced as one of Carter County's new EMA directors, described her 32 years of emergency management experience and emphasized public awareness and preparedness. "We are trying to put more of a community face with EMA, allowing people to understand what EMA does, how important they are in your community, and what they do when a disaster is not hitting," Ummerkin said.

Ummerkin noted the role EMA played during the response to Hurricane Helene and thanked the school district for providing Elizabethton High School as a staging area during the recovery. "When Helene hit... the EMA office moves to the top of the chain and, along with the mayor, they are the ones that are making all the decisions that come in and out of the county," she said, adding that the agency is working to make its services and staff more visible to schools and the community.

She said EMA will provide outreach materials and can speak to students; she referenced weekly social‑media preparedness challenges and offered brochures for distribution. "If there's anything that our office can assist you with — planning, drills — anything of that, we are there to serve you," Ummerkin said.

Major Woodby and Ummerkin urged continued partnership between the county and the school system to improve community resilience ahead of future disasters.