As natural disasters grow in frequency and intensity, local leaders increasingly find themselves on the frontlines of emergency response, often serving as both the first call and final line of defense when disasters strike. With hurricane season officially underway and peak wildfire months approaching, communities face heightened urgency to enhance readiness and resilience. At the same time, the federal emergency management policy landscape continues to evolve, shifting more responsibility onto local governments for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
This month, Hagerty’s Director of Response, Lee Mayfield, authored a featured article for the National Association of Counties (NACo), outlining a proactive path forward for local governments. In the piece, Lee shares four actionable steps counties can take to strengthen disaster readiness:
- Enhance communication between emergency management and county leadership
- Deepen coordination with state emergency management partners
- Evaluate financial readiness to sustain disaster response
- Expand mutual aid networks and local resource pools
Drawing on nearly two decades of experience, Lee offers critical insights to help local leaders prepare for the challenges ahead.
“Counties are not just stakeholders; they are essential partners in a locally executed, state-managed, and federally supported emergency management system,” Lee states.
We are proud to support counties nationwide and grateful to NACo for providing a platform to share these field-informed perspectives.
Read the full article on NACO’s website for more insights on how to enhance preparedness and streamline disaster response in a shifting policy landscape.
About Lee Mayfield
Lee Mayfield is a proven emergency management leader with over 17 years of experience in disaster planning, response, and recovery – specializing in state and local coordination, training, exercises, mass care, evacuation prioritization, and crisis response. Before joining Hagerty, Lee served as the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Lee County, Florida, and supported the county’s response and recovery from Hurricane Irma in 2017.