Pictured below (L-R): City of Fairfax Fire Department Chief John O’Neal; Capt. Walter English, emergency management coordinator; Marcia Deppen, director of Consequence Management, Maryland Department of Emergency Management; and Mayor Catherine Read.

In addition to improved usability, this edition introduces new and enhanced services designed to make the accreditation process more flexible and accessible. Programs can now choose from Hybrid or Virtual Assessments, engage in customized fee-for-service workshops, and explore Tiered Accreditation or Standard Area Endorsements as scalable pathways to recognition. The Guide also refines the Pre-Assessment and Peer Document Review options, adds payment flexibility, and expands support tools to strengthen every phase of the accreditation journey.

Find the upgraded EMAP Applicant Guide to Accreditation here.

The Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to emergency management and demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication to advancing the field. Morgan, a respected national leader with more than two decades of experience in emergency management, was recognized for her unwavering commitment to strengthening preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts both in Kansas and across the nation.

Ms. Morgan serves as the Deputy Director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM). During her time with KDEM, she has been instrumental in guiding the state through numerous disasters and emergencies, fostering collaboration among local, state, federal, and private-sector partners, and championing innovative programs that enhance community resilience. She has also played a key role in shaping national emergency management policy through her active engagement with NEMA and other professional associations, mentoring the next generation of emergency management leaders, and advocating for continuous improvement in the field.

“Angee Morgan embodies the spirit of service and leadership that defines this award,” said Trina Sheets, NEMA Executive Director.  “Her vision, dedication, and collaborative approach have strengthened not only Kansas’s emergency management capabilities but also the broader national system. She represents the very best of our profession.”

Morgan accepted the award during the 2025 NEMA Annual Forum, held in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where emergency management leaders from across the country gathered to address emerging challenges and share best practices.

The Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award honors the late Lacy E. Suiter, a pioneer in emergency management whose career set the standard for professionalism and dedication to public service.

For more information about the National Emergency Management Association and the Lacy E. Suiter Distinguished Service Award, please visit www.nemaweb.org.

“Congratulations to these Programs for achieving EMAP accreditation. Their efforts reflect a strong commitment to preparedness, coordination, and continuous improvement,” said Angee Morgan, Chair of the EMAP Commission and Deputy Director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management. “This accomplishment demonstrates their dedication to their communities and stakeholders through adherence to rigorous national standards.”

EMAP accreditation is a high honor awarded to emergency management programs that showcase their compliance with the Emergency Management Standard certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This achievement complies with EMAP’s mission to build safer communities through credible standards of excellence. These programs demonstrate accountability and continually identify areas for improvement to ensure they are prepared for any disaster – whether natural or technical. EMAP accreditation is not only an achievement, but a promise – a promise to maintain the highest level of service and readiness for the communities these programs serve.

Read the full press release here.

• Draft EMAP EMS 5-20XX Emergency Management Standard,
• Draft EMAP US&R 2-20XX Urban Search & Rescue Standard, and
• Draft EMAP US&R OPS 1-20XX Urban Search & Rescue Operational Standard.

Over the past two years, the EMAP Emergency Management Standards Subcommittee and Technical Committee have worked diligently to develop these draft Standards as part of year three of the EMAP Standards review cycle. We now invite your feedback and suggested revisions. The public comment period will remain open for sixty (60) calendar days and will close on September 9, 2025.

Public comment is open to all interested stakeholders, including accredited programs, emergency management professionals, and members of the public.

Your feedback is critical to ensuring that EMAP Standards remain relevant, effective, and representative of the needs of the emergency management and response community.

Please note:

• Each public comment form submission allows for only one (1) suggested revision.
• If you wish to provide multiple comments on a single Standard or comments on multiple Standards, you will need to submit a separate form for each.

To ensure your feedback is considered, please:

• Provide complete and clearly justified suggested revisions.
• Sign the form electronically.
  • Due to EMAP’s copyright policy, comments submitted without an electronic signature cannot be accepted, considered, or adjudicated.

Public comments will be reviewed and adjudicated by the EMAP Emergency Management Standards Subcommittee and the Urban Search & Rescue Standards Subcommittee after the comment period closes.

Submit your comments here:

• Please click here to provide public comment on the Draft EMAP EMS 5-20XX Emergency Management Standard.
• Please click here to provide public comment on the Draft EMAP US&R 2-20XX Urban Search & Rescue Standard.
• Please click here to provide public comment on the Draft EMAP US&R OPS 1-20XX Urban Search & Rescue Operational Standard.

We value your input in shaping these Standards and look forward to your participation.

If you have questions or require assistance, please contact Ms. Christine Y. Walsh, EMAP Assistant Director, at (859) 494-0917 or [email protected].

Apart from internal improvements, Programs also reported real-world benefits in disaster preparedness, training, and response coordination. Accredited Programs saw stronger interagency collaboration, enhanced public engagement, and benefited from long-term policy changes.

While some Programs faced roadblocks like limited resources and time constraints, there is still an overwhelming confirmation that EMAP Accreditation is not just a credential but an investment in community readiness and resilience.

Overall, the message from our Programs is clear: EMAP Accreditation empowers them to operate with greater clarity, confidence, and capability in the face of ever-evolving threats and hazards.

Thank you to all those who provided feedback!

Read the full press release here.

By incorporating EMAP accreditation into its performance framework, the report brings greater transparency and accountability to emergency preparedness assessments. EMAP-accredited states are often better equipped to manage complex health threats due to their adherence to comprehensive evaluation criteria that span planning, coordination, and incident management. This structured approach enables more effective emergency response and ensures that agencies can adapt to evolving crises. As a result, EMAP’s inclusion in the Ready or Not report reinforces its value as a critical driver of resilience and a key pillar in building public trust and institutional readiness.

Read more about TFAH’s full report here.

The full press release is available here. 

The full press release is available here.