Erie County Executive is Sole Northeastern Representative on New Force
ERIE COUNTY, NY— In a nod to his extensive experience dealing with disasters and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”), Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz has been named to the National Association of Counties’ (“NACo”) new Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, joining elected officials from across the country to strengthen our nation’s disaster mitigation, response and recovery capabilities. Having led Erie County’s response to blizzards, tornadoes, floods and other weather-related emergencies since 2012, Poloncarz stands out as the Task Force’s sole representative from the northeastern U.S.
“It is an honor to be asked to join this Task Force and I look forward to working with the group to examine ways to improve emergency response to disasters, as well as to implement mitigation efforts before the disaster strikes to lessen its impact. Erie County has seen weather emergencies of all kinds in recent years, including a record year for tornadoes in 2024, so I will be sharing our experiences in handling those storms while learning from the experiences my Task Force colleagues bring to the table,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Weather emergencies can escalate to disasters in minutes, and as storms get stronger our response must also get stronger and more coordinated. I am eager to get started.”
The Task Force’s first meeting will be held virtually today. According to NACo, in 2023 849 counties experienced at least one federally declared disaster, 720 counties had at least one disaster declaration, and 312 counties had at least one emergency declaration.
For more information on the Task Force, visit
https://www.naco.org/program/intergovernmental-disaster-reform-task-force
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