Paul Brennan Appointed to the FEMA National Advisory Council

October 18, 2019
Paul-Brennan.jpgPaul Brennan, NRP, director of Pre-Hospital Emergency Services at Lawrence General Hospital, has been appointed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council. The council advises FEMA on all aspects of emergency management, including preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other manmade disasters.
Brennan, who is also Lawrence General’s emergency preparedness coordinator, continues to serve the our community hospital as he has done for more than 25 years. He oversees a fleet of eight ambulances and more than 80 emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and emergency medical dispatchers on staff who provide emergency medical services (EMS) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. He also serves as the hospital’s emergency preparedness and response coordinator.

Brennan’s perspective is also influenced by his role as immediate past president of The International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC). Brennan feels his collective experience and broad EMS insight make him uniquely prepared to serve on FEMA’s National Advisory Council.

This appointment is truly an honor,” said Brennan. “I realize that I am among a very special and prestigious group of emergency management professionals.and Emergency management is dependent upon the preparation of communities all across the United States and I hope my knowledge and experience of all aspects of emergency management will be of use. I also look forward to learning even more from my peers on the council.

The National Advisory Council consists of up to 35 members appointed by, and serving, at the pleasure of the FEMA Administrator of Representatives, Special Government Employees (SGEs), or Ex Officio. To the extent practical, members are geographically diverse and represent a substantive cross-section of officials, emergency managers, and emergency response providers from state, local, tribal and territorial governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations.

Through legislation, the National Advisory Council was established by FEMA to ensure input from and coordination on the development and revision of plans and strategies; the administration of and assessment of FEMA’s grant programs; and the development and evaluation of risk assessment methodologies.