By Shaun Szkolnik
For The Tribune
CENTER POINT – The Center Point Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Jefferson County EMA Director Jim Coker as the special guest speaker at Tuesday’s luncheon.
Coker was introduced to the chamber by Tim Gann, general manager of the Center Point Area Chamber of Commerce.
“He (Coker) was appointed director of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency in September 2014,” Gann said. “His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordination of the Jefferson County Emergency Operation Center during significant events, conducts briefings to external groups, communication with staff, emergency management council and others, operating budget, development of the emergency operations plan, maintains positive public relations.”
Before signing on with the EMA, Coker spent most of his professional career in law enforcement. He served with the UAB Police Department for 35 years. He also served with the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Department and Hoover Police Department.
“In 2014, I had one of the best opportunities I ever had,” Coker said. “And that was to be named the director of Jefferson County (EMA). Lucky for me, because of my long career here in this county, I knew many of the people I’d have to work with, so jumping into this role was something that was not something that was really hard for me because I already had a lot of contacts. The chamber of commerce, you’re business oriented…how valuable are contacts and relationships? Extremely.
“Since 2014, we have done a lot to build those relationships. That is what makes us work. It is not only externally, it is with all of our 34 cities, towns here in Jefferson County, and the county.”
Coker spent some of his time addressing the important issue of tornado season and how the 2019 tornado season has begun earlier than usual.
“Folks, it is tornado season,” Coker said. “We kinda started early this year. Thursday is another potential bad weather day. Y’all stay tuned in Thursday, especially afternoon and evening. They’re already talking about it (and) we’ve got another solid two months to go.”
Given last week’s tragedy in Lee County, in which 23 people were killed by tornadoes, the message could hardly have been more necessary.
“An EF4 (such as the tornado that struck Lee County) this early in the season, in that part of Alabama, just doesn’t happen that often,” Coker said. “Twenty three people (died), we know that, many more injured in a rural part of Lee County.”
One of the areas in which the Jefferson County EMA has sought to improve disaster preparedness was in the arena of notification. One change has been the polygon-based system on outside warning alerts. The system now works so that only areas that are in the danger zone receive the siren. This is done so that citizens will know that a siren means they had better take cover. Another advancement has been with the Everbridge system.
The Everbridge system is a multi-platform alert service that can reach users with important information about not only extreme weather, but also chemical spills and even active shooters in their immediate area.
“A couple things are different now than five years ago,” Coker said. “One is Everbridge…our reach across Jefferson County now is 209,000 contact numbers. Five years ago we had nothing like that. So, if the National Weather Service, Thursday, issues a tonado warning polygon, the people inside the polygon will get a phone call or a text message. They’ll be notified.”
“Our sirens are now polygon based. We need you’re help to remind people that. What this means is if you get an alert from Everbridge, if you hear it on TV, if a siren goes off, if you’re in that polygon, you gotta do something right now, because you’re life’s at risk.”
One of the biggest challenges facing emergency management agencies is how to get citizens to take the warnings as seriously as they need to be taken.
“One thing that is being closely looked at is, ‘what can we say to make people take action?’” Coker said. “This (the tornado that struck Lee County) was being talked about two days ahead of time. What words make people take action? A lot of these people lived in trailer parks. There was no close shelter, so what can be told…that will make them leave…and find somewhere safe? If you have any thoughts on that, let’s have a discussion.”