ALCOAST 279/25 - JUN 2025 2024 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARDS

R 201718Z JUN 25 MID120002020818U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 279/25
SSIC 16000
SUBJ: 2024 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AWARDS
1. I am pleased to announce the recipients of 2024 Emergency
Management Awards. The Emergency Management Awards recognize
operational units and individual members who exemplify the
highest standards of professionalism and initiative in the field
of emergency management. Thank you to all who dedicated time to
highlight both unit and individual achievements. In considering
an impressive slate of unit and individual nominees, a panel
convened and reviewed nominations based on the following
criteria:
     a. Excellence in the area of emergency management, planning,
and preparedness;
     b. Innovation in the field of emergency management that
demonstrates leadership and initiative;
     c. Engagement with interagency and community stakeholders;
     d. Exercise completion and Incident Management Team (IMT)
readiness for units; and
     e. Furthering the goals and objectives of the Coast Guard
emergency management program.
2. Congratulations to the 2024 Emergency Management Unit of the
Year: Sector New Orleans. The Sector impressively surpassed mandated
exercise requirements by leading five exercises and participating
in seven industry-led exercises. EMFR worked with the state of
Louisiana to certify a member as an ICS 300/400 FEMA instructor,
resulting in 44 new ICS qualifications, and an impressive increase
of IMT readiness from 43% to 82%. Sector New Orleans spearheaded a
$4 million federally funded response effort to clean up Cox Bay, LA,
safely removing over 600,000 gallons of oil and oily waste,
inspiring remediation of similar abandoned facilities across the
region. Lastly, Sector managed an extensive 141-day Type 1 Pollution
incident involving a spill of 1.1 million gallons of oil off the
Louisiana coast. Sector New Orleans' excellence in their exercise
program, IMT readiness, innovation, and external engagement are
commendable and a great example for all CG units.
3. Congratulations to the 2024 Emergency Manager of the Year:
Ms. Laura Wyness, Sector Miami Emergency Management Specialist.
Ms. Wyness spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul of Sector Miami's
contingency plans and rewrote the Southeast FL Contingency Plan
transforming it into a highly usable modernized tool. She updated
hurricane response checklists, created and distributed Emergency
Response Guides to local partners and redefined external engagement
by reestablishing critical relationships that lapsed. Leveraging her
ICS experience, she enhanced Sector Miami's Watch Quarter Station
Bill (WQSB) identifying gaps in role alignment and ICS structure,
increasing operational readiness by 20%. Her initiative, expertise,
and interagency coordination have vastly improved emergency
management protocols across Sector Miami and is a great example for
other CG emergency management specialists.
4. All units and members should be proud of their continued efforts
to support the emergency management and disaster response mission.
Although only one recipient for each category could be selected, it
is my honor to name Sector Lake Michigan as honorable mention.
5. In addition to the extraordinary achievements noted by the
2024 Annual Emergency Management Awards recipients, I applaud
the continued efforts of all emergency managers throughout the
Coast Guard each day. Stay safe in the field and we look forward
to reviewing next year's submissions. Semper Paratus!
6. POC: LCDR Kaitlin Insley, COMDT (CG-OEM) at
Kaitlin.G.Insley@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2157.
7. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director, Emergency Management (CG-5RI),
sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.