Helene Wetherington Email & Phone Number

Ms Wetherington is the Emergency Management Services Director for the emergency management services division at CGA which focuses its services on the ongoing support of municipal and county emergency management programs in Florida. For Palm Beach County, she led Herbert Hoover Dike planning efforts including a regional summit, behavioral survey, transportation study, and outreach products for Palm Beach County. She is managing the long-term development and maintenance of two municipal emergency management programs (West Park, Surfside and Weston) and supports numerous other local governments in the development of CEMPs, NIMS compliance, personnel training and ongoing exercises. CGA has developed Catastrophic Plan, FEMA compliant Debris Management Plans, Post Disaster Redevelopment Plans, Economic Redevelopment Plans, Disaster Housing Plans, Continuity of Operations Plans, Table and Terrorism Exercises, and training courses for clients throughout south and central Florida including Palm Beach County, Martin County, Orange County, Polk County and the cities of Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Lauderdale Lakes, Pembroke Pines and others.

Project Manager for the National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) assessment which is a national pilot program to evaluate the emergency management capability of 18 jurisdictions in the NCR against national standards. Supported the development of the NIMS compliant Emergency Operations Plan for the City of Chicago. Supported the implementation of Homeland Security Presidential Directives 5 and 7 by drafting elements of the Universal Task List and the Target Capability List for the Department of Homeland Security. She also supported the development of the National Infrastructure Protection Program as a subject matter expert to the healthcare and public health sector. Supported the Office for Domestic Security in the revisions to the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) and served as a HSEEP instructor. She has served as exercise evaluator on homeland security related exercises in the State of Nebraska and Massachusetts. She also supported the development of the Family of Emergency Workers Plan for the regional planning agency in Massachusetts

Administered DEM programs and personnel for planning, public outreach, training and exercise, recovery and mitigation programs. She served as liaison and coordinated with 37 municipalities, 100+ public/private/nonprofit partner organizations, state and federal government agencies ensuring consistency with State and National Response plans. Provided policy guidance in evacuation and shelter programs, as well as radiological emergency preparedness and anti-terrorism response programs. Oversaw personnel and strategic planning processes, grants and contracts, and 14 million dollar budget. Member of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force and played a key role in response to over a dozen natural disasters and terrorist events in Palm Beach County. During Responded to over a dozen large scale disasters including Hurricanes, Floods, Tornadoes, and the Boca Raton Anthrax attack. Her responsibilities included management of the Emergency Operations Center during activations and coordination with internal and external organizations at all levels of government

Participated in statewide disaster deployments to over 10 federally declared disasters in Florida acting as response liaison in local EOCs and in the DFO during recover operations. As a state representative in the local EOC, she was responsible for supporting local evacuation decision making and regional coordination among counties. As a representative in the State Emergency Operations Center she was responsible for the coordination of resources to local governments and information and planning activities. She provided planning and training support related to all hazards preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Monitored county EMPA grants totaling $800,000, and reviewed Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs) and five year strategic plans. She administered regional training programs, evaluated table-top and full-scale exercises, and conducted area meetings and presentations. Served as State liaison to local, federal, private, and volunteer organizations on all related programs and policies. Coordinated development, review and exercise of SARA Title III hazardous materials plans (EPCRA) and CEMPs. Served as Coordinator between state, regional, and local government entities and federal funds distribution and provided staff support, research, and policy development recommendations for the State Emergency Response Commission.

. Ms. Wetherington served as the Intergovernmental coordinator for the coastal information exchange between government agencies. She coordinated reporting requirements of coastal permitting and enforcement activities of coastal agencies. Ms. Wetherington also reviewed competitive grant applications for federal funding and conducted public outreach including presentations, training sessions, and articles for the newsletter.

Mpa, Public Administration

Msp, Urban And Regional Planning

Ba, Political Science