EMA Staff

The staff at the Huntsville-Madison County Emergency Management Agency works for you. Our administrative offices are located in the basement of the City of Huntsville Public Service Building, 320 Fountain Circle, Huntsville, Alabama 35801. All of our staff members can be reached by calling (256) 427-5130, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., excluding City of Huntsville holidays. Our fax number is (256) 427-5140. After normal business hours, Huntsville Fire & Rescue Communications answers our number and has 24 hour contact with EMA staff.

All members of our staff are members of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers (AAEM) as well as the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Most of the staff members hold professional certification through the Association as well.

Administrative Division

John "Rusty" Russell, Jr. - Director

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Past President, Region IV - International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM USA)
IAEM USA Representative to the National Associaton of Counties (NACo)
IAEM USA Conference Committee Chairman
Member, Editorial Board - Journal of Business Continuity and Emergency Planning
Recipient, Clayton R. Christopher Annual Memorial Award 2008
Member FEMA Region IV Advisory Council
Past President, Alabama Association of Emergency Managers
Past President, North Alabama Mutual Assistance Association
Recipient, President Bush's Volunteer Service Award
Member, National Peer Review Panel 2006-2010
CERT Instructor

Rusty was hired on as the Huntsville-Madison County EMA Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Specialist in 1996. He served as an Emergency Management Officer and later the Emergency Operations Coordinator before being appointed Director in December 2001. His background is in U.S. Army Pershing Missile System operations and as Senior Non-Commissioned Officer for the Army Material Command's Logistic Support Activity at Redstone Arsenal prior to retiring in 1996 with twenty-two years of service.

Rusty was designated as Madison County's point of contact for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security by the Madison County Commission Chairman. Rusty was also selected as the regional point of contact for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security by fellow Homeland Security contacts in the 10 northeastern counties.

Rusty served as President of the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers as well as three terms as President of the North Alabama Mutual Assistance Association. He is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers USA where he is a Past President of the southeastern region representing the eight southeastern states. Rusty is a technician level amateur radio operator. Electronics and woodworking are his main hobbies.

In 2008, Rusty was presented with the Clayton R. Christopher Annual Memorial Award. The award recognizes the recipient for unselfish devotion and outstanding contributions to the overall Emergency Management Program. This award is presented annually by IAEM-USA Region 4 and is the foremost and only National Recognition specifically and exclusively reserved for Local Emergency Managers.

Bill Sizemore - Accountant III

As the Emergency Management Agency's Accountant, Bill assists the director in development of our budget, maintains records concerning grant monies, maintains records of the agency's inventory, as well as keeping track of expenditures.

Bill has a B.B.A. degree in Accounting from Athens State University and has a background in retail management and insurance. Bill is also a licensed aircraft pilot.

Emy Roberts - Administrative Assistant

As EMA's Administrative Assistant, Emy is likely the first member of the staff you will speak with when contacting our agency. Emy is also responsible for employee payroll data entry, travel coordination, working with the accountant in processing accounts payable, and assisting the operations staff in the emergency operations center during activations.

As a native of Huntsville, Emy moved to a small town outside of Mobile, AL in 1998. There she became involved with the local fire, police, and medical services. Mrs. Roberts attended the University of South Alabama studying Emergency Medical Services, in addition to attending the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa receiving several fire related certifications. She was a volunteer EMT with Southwest Alabama EMS.

Upon Returning to Huntsville in 2001, Emy began working with the City of Huntsville May 6, 2002 as a Dispatcher with the Huntsville Police Department. In October of 2003, she transferred to the Clerk Treasurer's Department as a Revenue Collection Clerk. Emy came to the Emergency Management Agency as an Administrative Assistant in October 2011.

Emy enjoys motorcycle trips on the Harley with her husband, watching her son play football, cooking, and crafts.

Emergency Plans Division

Jared Cassidy - Emergency Plans Coordinator

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Radiological Monitor Trainer
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

As the Emergency Plans Coodinator, Jared is primarily responsible for developing plans for response to weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, radiological, hazardous material and enemy attack events. Additionally, Jared is responsible for overseeing Madison County’s involvement in the Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program. He also assists other staff members with answering emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations.

Jared's background includes about 8 years of previous service to the Agency as a communications volunteer. Jared holds the designation of Advanced Emergency Manager from the Alabama Association of Emergency Managers for completing over 700 hours of instruction in emergency management and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Emergency Management. Jared is a licensed extra class amateur radio operator as well.

Operations Division

Jim Pockrus - Operations Coordinator

Certified Emergency Manager (International Association of Emergency Managers)
Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

Jim is tasked with overseeing the Agency's Operations Division as well as the Huntsville - Madison County outdoor warning system consisting of over 100 sirens. Jim is also responsible for keeping track of EMA's vehicle maintenance, severe weather operations, as well as facility issues for the Agency such as generator back up power systems. Jim also assists other staff members with responding to emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations. Jim also serves as EMA's liaison to the Alabama State Defense Force and is a member of the American Meteorological Society.

Jim's background is in aviation. Jim has a Airline Transport Pilot's License and has 23 years experience in all aspects of aviation, including military, general and corporate aviation and airline pilot. Jim has a B. S. degree in Business Administration and is a licensed technician class amateur radio operator as well.

Scott Worsham - Emergency Management Officer

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Certified Local Emergency Manager (State of Alabama EMA)
Past President, North Alabama Mutual Assistance Association
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor
Fallout Shelter Manager

Scott is responsible for the Agency's natural hazards programs, web pages, Citizen Corps Council and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, the Incident Command Trailer (mobile operations center), EMA's Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) unit, and assisting other staff members with answering emergency call-outs to hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations.

Scott was raised in the Hazel Green community of northern Madison County and has been active in emergency services since 1989 when he was invited to join a newly created youth explorer program at the Madison Police Department while in high school. After the explorer program ended, he began volunteering as a Deputy Cadet with the Madison County Sheriff's Department. Scott has experience as a 911 operator/dispatcher (both for the Sheriff and Huntsville Fire & Rescue) and as a police officer for the City of Athens. Scott currently serves part-time as a police officer for the Town of Owens Cross Roads in addition to his duties at EMA. Scott has an A.S. in Police Science. He is a licensed technician class amateur radio operator and serves as the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service Coordinator for the county. Scott also serves as Madison County's Citizen Corps Council Chair.

Chris Reed - Emergency Management Officer

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Fallout Shelter Manager
CERT Train-the-Trainer Instructor

Chris is responsible for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) readiness, communications vehicle and other communications equipment, agency computer systems and software issues, assisting with severe weather preparedness,training, and operations. Chris assists the other staff members with answering emergency call-outs for hazardous materials, severe weather, and other hazardous situations. Chris also serves as the Secretary of the Madison County Emergency Planning Committee.

Chris' background includes previous service in communications. He has broadcast communications experience with several local radio stations and began emergency services in 1995 for the City of Huntsville where he served as a 911 operator and dispatcher for both fire and law enforcement. Chris has an A.S. in mathematics and is pursuing a B.S. in Emergency Management. He is a licensed general class amateur radio operator and has served in the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) for the past six years. Chris is also a member of the American Meteorological Society.

Paige Colburn - Emergency Management Officer

Advanced Level Emergency Manager (Alabama Association of Emergency Managers)
Vice President, North Alabama Mutual Assistance Association
Certified Local Emergency Manager (State of Alabama)
CERT Instructor

Paige Colburn has a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications from Jacksonville State University. After various media positions, her emergency management career began as an American Red Cross volunteer in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She continued gaining emergency preparedness experience with two years of AmeriCorps VISTA service and short employment with an American Red Cross chapter. Today she is the EMA liaison to the local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD); leads many public outreach efforts such as Be Ready Family and Be Ready Business throughout Madison County; and sits on the Madison City Disability Advocacy Board (MCDAB) Emergency Services committee. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Affairs at UAHuntsville.

Candy Sumlin - Emergency Management Officer

Candy serves as local industry's primary point of contact for SARA Title III reporting for EPA compliance. Candy also serves as the agency liasion to CAER of Metro Huntsville, an organization that fosters and promotes sound environmental practices and accountability in the business and corporate setting.

Candy began working with the City of Huntsville in 1999 as a Records Clerk with the Huntsville Police Department. Candy transferred to the Emergency Management Agency in September, 2005 as a Secretary and was promoted to Emergency Management Officer in 2010.

Candy also has prior experience as a dispatcher with the Huntsville Fire Department. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi. Candy lives in Harvest, AL with her husband and 3 children.

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