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Atchison County appoints James Stewart as emergency management director and adopts Region K hazard mitigation plan
Summary
The county commission approved Lieutenant James Stewart’s appointment as emergency management director and adopted the FEMA-reviewed Region K hazard mitigation plan, actions the board said preserve eligibility for several federal mitigation grants.
Lieutenant James Stewart, recently designated to serve as Atchison County’s emergency management director, was formally appointed by the county commission and given authority to represent the county to the Kansas Department of Emergency Management.
Stewart, who said he has spent the past months reviewing mutual-aid agreements and the county Emergency Operations Plan, told commissioners he is positioning the office to update the EOP, run a full-scale HAZMAT exercise and meet new documentation requirements coming in January. "I would like for the county to adopt these plans," Stewart told the board, referring to the multi-jurisdictional Region K hazard mitigation plan.
Commissioners also considered and approved Resolution No. 2024-1545, formally adopting the Region K hazard mitigation plan. Stewart described the document — prepared for all jurisdictions in Region K by Blue Umbrella Solutions and approved by FEMA — as a five-year plan that lists mitigation actions (flood control, bridge assessments, cybersecurity, tornado and other risks) and identifies potential grant programs such as HMGP post-fire, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance that the county could pursue.
Board members said adopting the plan preserves eligibility for federal mitigation funding. The motion to adopt the resolution passed by voice vote.
The appointment letter sent from Sheriff Jack Vohrey authorizing Stewart to contact state emergency-management officials and request resources likewise was approved by the commission. The board recorded the motion to approve and sign the appointment; the item passed in open session.
Next steps: Stewart will continue working with local stakeholders to finalize county-specific sections, pursue annual reviews required by FEMA practice and coordinate exercises and plan updates that will support future grant applications.
