The Office of Emergency Management Services reports to the South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners through the Township Manager and provides assistance to South Whitehall Township staff (Administrative, Police, Fire and Public Works). It develops and maintains comprehensive disaster preparedness and assistance plans and programs that address relevant hazards. These plans are culminated in the Township’s Emergency Operating Plan, which outlines how the Township coordinates with other local, county, state and federal agencies in the event of an emergency, ranging from a hazardous material spill to a natural disaster to a terrorist incident. In the event of a disaster, the overall responsibility for decision making within South Whitehall Township rests with the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners may declare a local emergency upon finding a disaster has occurred or is imminent. When a local emergency is declared, the Office of Emergency Management along with Township personnel and representatives from the township emergency first responder organizations operate an Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the management of community-wide resources (police, public works, fire, EMS, food, shelters, Parkland school district etc.) with various local, county, state and federal agencies to appropriately respond to an emergency event. The protection of health, safety and welfare of our residents is paramount.

The following are examples of EOC staff activities:

• Requesting mutual aid resources
• Locating requested resources and directing them to the proper place
• Managing a wide-scale evacuation
• Establishing shelters and coordinating social services
• Coordinating Communications with the community
• Transmitting information over the Emergency Alert System
• Resolving policy issues

The Office of Emergency Management has compiled public safety information to assist its citizens in the education, preparedness and readiness for an emergency situation.

Emergency Management Agency Team Members:

• Jeff Kelly | Coordinator
• Tom Petrucci | Township Manager
• Herb Bender | Director of Operations / Public Works Deputy
• Steve Brown | Police/Security Deputy
• Mike Elias I  Water /Sewer Utilities Deputy
• Patrick Eisenhard | Deputy Coordinator
• Chris Kelly | Communications Officer & Deputy Coordinator
• Max Paine | Deputy Communications Officer
• Danielle Henkel | American Red Cross
• Rusty Held | Fire/Rescue Deputy
• Chris Peischl  | MCI Rescue Task Force Deputy
• Andrew Garger | Greenawalds Fire Chief
• Barry Search | Woodlawn Fire Chief
• Ricardo Diaz | Cetronia Fire Chief
• Brian Neas | Tri-Clover Fire Chief
• John Frantz | Fire Marshal & Deputy Coordinator
• Carrie Frey | Medical/Mortuary Deputy & Cetronia Ambulance Representative
• CA Jason Cartia | Medical/Mortuary 1st Deputy
• Arthur Oaks | Parkland School District
• Anthony Naradko | Parkland School District EMA
• Lori Seier | Mass Care Deputy, Parkland School District
• Val Strock I Transportation Deputy Parkland School District
• Diane Kelly | Disaster Recovery & Long-Range Planning
• Sandi Herman | Planning Deputy
• Kurt Fritzinger | GEO Chemicals EM and Safety
• Ryan Hay | Lehigh Valley Health Network EM
• Tom Sparling | LVHN - Coordinated Health EM
• Rob Smith | St. Lukes University Health Network EM
• Jeffrey Kowalski | St. Luke's University Health Network EM
• Donna Zackeru | Resources/Supplies Deputy
• Oliver Dokes | Dorney Park Public Safety
• Kristin Ardizoni | Dorney Park Public Safety

Meeting Schedule:

All meetings are open to the public.

This Board meets at 7:00 PM at the Joint Operations Center Building at 4300 Broadway (GPS address is 4350 Broadway). Meetings are generally held on the second Thursday of the month on a quarterly basis beginning in March.

Meeting Dates and Information: