Thomas S. Hughes
Title: State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Chief, Hazard Mitigation Division
Organization: PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)
Bio: Has been with PEMA 21 years in several key agency positions. As PA SHMO, currently responsible for over 180 Disaster and Non-Disaster Hazard Mitigation projects (Acquisition/Demolition, Elevation, Ice-Boom, Notification & Early Warning, Floodproofing, HM Planning (67Counties, 14DRU, State HMP) in the area of $100 million in HM dollars. Currently working DR-1898 (Snow Disaster), DR-4003 (NE PA Flooding), DR-4025 (Hurricane Irene), DR-4030 (Tropical Storm Lee), DR-4099 (Superstorm Sandy) and DR-4149 (11 County Continuous Flood Events); 30 Non-Disaster HM Grants (FMA, PDM, LPDM, RFC and SRL). Pennsylvania Silver Jacket Co-Chair (2013 Team of the Year). Has completed the FEMA Advanced Floodplain Management Concept Courses (3).
PEMA State Hazard Mitigation Officer Position:
- Serves as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO), Function as principal staff assistant to the Bureau Director and PEMA Director in hazard mitigation matters; Supervises Hazard Mitigation personnel (HM Project Officers) assigned to the Bureau; oversight on all plans and projects, Serves as Chairman of the State All-Hazard Mitigation Planning Team and member of Pennsylvania’s Land-Use Committee and Co-Chair of the chartered Pennsylvania Silver Jackets Program (Replace the State Flood Task Force) which involves federal, state, local and professional association stakeholders. (Currently have a 14 Full-Time, Limited-Term, Annuitants & Clerical HM Staff assigned)
Description of Duties/Responsibilities:
- Assists state, county and municipal governments in natural hazard risk identification and the identification and implementation of cost effective measures that will reduce future losses resulting from natural disasters.
- Recommends, develops and implements procedures for efficient, effective administration of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistance (HMA) Programs: Disaster Grants – Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Non-Disaster Grants- Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA).
- Assists in the administration of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program by:
- Reviewing, recommending and submitting county and municipal government requests for hazard mitigation grant monies to FEMA; Providing technical advice and assistance to community leaders and other applicants concerning documentation requirements and disaster funding procedures; Acting as the applicant’s advocate in all matters related to project approval and administration;
- Assisting in the preparation of internal directives associated with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program;
- Develops and provides training to PEMA staff and augmenters, Joint Field Office (JFO) staff, Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) staff, and other interested parties on hazard mitigation.
Emergency Assignment:
- Assists in the establishment of the Joint Field Office located in the designated disaster area.
- Serves as the hazard mitigation expert on the JFO management team.
- Serves as team leader of the Hazard Mitigation Field Team in preliminary damage assessment (PDA) activities.
- Ensures notification of potential hazard mitigation applicants and conduct Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Applicants’ Briefing.
Education:
BA, Lycoming College, Business Administration, 1985, Williamsport, PA
AA Financial Management Specialist, Community College of the Air Force, 1987, Maxwell Air Force Base
Professional Credentials: 3x Certified Emergency Manager, NCCEM & International Assoc. of Emergency Managers 1995-2010 Employed by PEMA since 1993. Previous positions: State Emergency Operations Duty Officer, State Radiological Officer, State Training Officer. State EOC – Operations Section Chief; Infrastructure, Human Services, Recovery Branch Division Chief; US Air Force and USAF Reserves Retired (CMSgt): Emergency Management/Mission Support Group duties 1985-2013; deployed for Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.