At a special meeting of the Emergency Management Council on October 20, Mr. Jan Glarum was appointed as Acting Director of Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management (KCDEM). His appointment is effective immediately.
Glarum came to KCDEM three years ago to serve as the Plans, Training and Exercise Officer. He has previously held positions with FEMA, state and local emergency management agencies. In a statement on the KCDEM website, he has stated that he will focus on the following priorities:
- Develop public awareness of disaster hazards and promote self-sufficiency after disaster strikes.
- Develop responder capabilities.
- Have reasonable procedures for emergencies and disasters.
- Create an atmosphere of interagency cooperation in emergency and disaster operations.
In his message to the community, he states, “facing emergencies before they happen takes time, money, and resources that can be difficult to justify when everything seems fine. However, recent events have shown that planning and preparation have a place in making Kitsap County a resilient community. We hope you will join us in making the next emergency a better one.”