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Lincoln names emergency manager

June 05, 2009|MICHAEL BROIHIER

STANFORD - Lynn Wisehart has been hired as Lincoln County's new Emergency Management director, replacing Winford Todd who was fired after the January ice storm.

Wisehart met last week with Lincoln County Judge-Executive Buckwheat Gilbert, who prevailed upon her to accept the post after she had turned it down earlier.

"I'm happy to have the decision made and am honored by the support of so many people," Wisehart said.

Wisehart, 38, of Chicken Bristle is currently serving as the preparedness planner at the Lincoln County Health Department and has worked on several issues key to disaster readiness in the community, including a pandemic flu plan and laying the groundwork for deployment of the Strategic National Stockpile of medical supplies and equipment in case of disaster.

A major in the Marine Corps Reserves, Wisehart was recalled to active duty two years ago to write the Marine Corps Reserves' pandemic flu plan.

"I'm excited about the future of emergency management for Lincoln County," said Wisehart. "We have the unique opportunity to take our planning efforts in whichever way we as a community decide because we are truly standing at the ground level with regards to planning."

Regional Emergency Manager Don Franklin who aided county officials in their search for a new director, said, "I think with her planning experience and training she's probably the ideal choice for the job. With her having the planning experience and Troy Gingrass having the response experience, they have the perfect team."

Wisehart said Gingrass, who served as interim Emergency Management director after Todd's departure, has an extensive emergency response background. "I think our experiences will definitely complement each other."

Gingrass was deputy under Todd and will remain deputy under Wisehart.

One of the first projects the two have ahead of them is building an emergency operation center for the county, which Gilbert has committed to using the former 911 center on Main Street in Stanford.

Wisehart also will work closely with local Red Cross coordinator Jeremy Blansett and other volunteer agencies in putting together the county's disaster shelter plan.

"It's very exciting. There are so many wonderfully dedicated responders in the county, and I am looking forward to working with them and, of course, with Troy," Wisehart said.

Wisehart also is the county's Medical Reserve Corps leader and plans on integrating the group's medical and non-medical volunteers into the county's plans.

Wisehart is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, a former active duty enlisted Marine and Marine officer, and operates a farm in Chicken Bristle.

Editor's note: Lynn Wisehart is married to Michael Broihier, editor of The Interior Journal.

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