Emergency management and veterans service officers report 2025 activity to Whitley County commissioners

Emergency Management Agency director Ed Scott and veteran service officer Josh Mann gave year-end reports to the Whitley County Board of Commissioners.

Ed Scott said the EMA had a 2025 budget of $139,546 and brought in about $66,000 in grant reimbursements — roughly 48% of the department budget — from FEMA and other sources. He said the office responded to more than 20 calls last year, most outside standard business hours, and recorded more than 340 hours of staff training. Scott noted the county experienced a tornado activation in December that he believes was the National Weather Service’s first such activation for the county, and he described a full overhaul of the county HAZMAT emergency response plan and the addition of an unmanned aerial systems (UAS) program.

Veteran service officer Josh Mann said 511 veterans used the county service last year. He provided a breakdown of contact types, saying it "averaged out over the entire year about 53% of walk ins, and then 26 appointments and 20 calls." Mann described outreach efforts including school talks and community events and said full-time availability helped veterans obtain paperwork and VA contacts.

Commissioners publicly thanked both staff members for their service and efforts.