EMA Director Janice Newman Retires

HUNTINGDON (September 27) — Janice Newman has been answering emergency calls as the director of the Carroll County Emergency Management Agency for 26 years. She retired Friday, September 27, ending her long career in emergency management for the county. Even on her final day of service, Newman issued a flash flood alert in response to possible flooding.

The director of the Emergency Management Agency provides weather and other hazardous warnings, responds to hazardous emergencies, documents damage assessments during major weather events for TEMA and FEMA in order to receive any disaster declaration and financial reimbursement, develops mitigation plans, and organize search and rescue missions. Some of the most noted events were drownings, tornadoes–including two fatalities, and the massive train derailment near Trezevant. During previous hurricanes in Louisiana, Newman was tasked with organizing sheltering operations at the National Guard Training Facility in Lavinia. She worked with the Red Cross to house those who fled flooded areas caused by the hurricanes.

She coordinated emergency response plans with other local and state agencies.

In her early years, Newman was both the county’s fire chief and director of EMA. During those years, she had the added responsibility of training firefighters, procuring equipment, and recruiting personnel for the county’s 12 rural volunteer fire brigades.

Part of her responsibilities included visiting schools and talking to students about emergency preparedness.

The 1974 graduate of McKenzie High School worked as a pharmacy tech, an EMT and paramedic, director of Baptist EMS, and then director of the county’s EMA. While Newman is retiring, she said she will continue to maintain her certification as a paramedic and have a jump bag of medical supplies in her car.

For now, she plans to rest, work on her house and yard, and take a break from the 24/7 emergency call regiment.

And, she plans to spend more time with her family, especially the grandchildren.