Bexar County emergency management program earns national EMAP accreditation

Bexar County officials announced Tuesday that the county’s Office of Emergency Management has earned national accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP).

Deputy Chief Mike Moreland, who manages county emergency management, said the accreditation recognizes that Bexar County’s emergency‑management program meets national standards across preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation. Moreland told the court the effort reflected several years of planning and collaboration with more than two dozen county and regional partners.

Jody Ferguson, incoming chair of the EMAP Commission, said EMAP’s voluntary, standards‑based review requires adherence to dozens of criteria and noted that the process demands “a true commitment to continuous improvement.” Ferguson presented the county with a crystal obelisk and praised county leadership for investing in emergency management resources and partnerships.

Judge Peter Sakai and County Manager David Smith joined the recognition, and Moreland thanked a long list of county departments and outside partners that contributed to the accreditation, from public health and the American Red Cross to regional hospitals and utilities.

County officials said the accreditation is a milestone, not an end point, and that it provides a formal foundation for continued improvement as disasters grow more frequent and complex.