http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/Apr/01/images/040115PICS/Emergency%20Management%20Agency%20Volunteer%20of%20the%20Year%20027.jpgLogan County Emergency Management Agency announces Patrick Doolin as Volunteer of the Year

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[April 03, 2015]  LINCOLN - Last evening before a large crowd that had gathered for the Weather Spotter Training, Logan County Emergency Management Agency Director Dan Fulscher made a brief announcement that Patrick Doolin had been chosen as Volunteer of the Year.

EMA relies on hundreds of volunteers, each is someone that goes above and beyond on behalf of the community, and as Fulscher recognized, most do it year after year. Fulscher recognized a few of those who were in attendance for the weather training that have received the Volunteer of the Year, most also had been awarded special merits: Devin Vannoy, five time Logan County and State of Illinois EMA Volunteer of the Year; Don Begolka, Ron Shawgo, Lynn and Tammy Buse.

Doolin has been involved with EMA for 10 years as the emergency services coordinator of the Lincoln Balloon Festival.

Fulscher said that he has come to understand that involvement from the business side of the community is important to EMA. Doolin has represented the private sector and been the Lincoln and Logan County Chamber of Commerce liaison to the Logan County Emergency Operations Center for the past three years.
 


He has also been a part of the Disaster Intelligence Team, which is engaged when the EOC is opened. The DIT helps to foresee needs and to brain storm resources that might be needed during a larger scale emergency or disaster.

Doolin has taken part in the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) Exercise Design Team and Training Program. This program makes the plan for a major exercise each year that brings together emergency response agencies, community leaders and others that would be called on in a time of disaster.

Doolin has shared his expertise in computers, data storage and business in an ongoing development of a Business Emergency Operations Center (BEOC) program.

As businesses in our communities are more reliant on computer use and the data stored in them, it becomes more important to plan what to do if we would be without the power needed to operate for one or more days, or if the computers themselves would be destroyed. Notice some day when you are out in the community conducting business how often that business transaction is dependent on computer use.

Doolin was also instrumental in the development of the Congregational Emergency Plan, which supports future religious institution and civic organization preparedness.

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At Jefferson Street Christian Church, church leaders met for a year under the direction of EMA to review safety practices and response plans to various threats from weather to intruder. The plan was presented to the church at a special gathering and an actual exercise was conducted to test it last year.

Doolin's business, Integrity Data, supplied proof reading and copier costs for the plans distributed at the exercise.

The written and state approved Congregational Emergency Plan will be adapted for use by other organizations now.

Logan County Board Chairman David Hepler joined Fulscher thanking Doolin, "First I'd like to say there's probably no family in Logan County that has influenced this community on so many different levels. And here we find one more level. I wish we had 10 more like them."

Fulscher had worked with April Doolin, who thought she could get her husband to come for the Weather Spotter Training Class. A stunned Patrick, commented, "I now know why my wife was so eager to get me here tonight."

Later he sheepishly said, "I probably should have said, "Thank you!""

Dr. Hepler added that we have here, "the finest EMA director and staff in Illinois." He was sure the surrounding counties and the state would say the same about Logan County.

 

 

And, he took a moment in his closing remarks to thank those who had come to train as weather spotters, many of whom were first responders. He said that when the rest of us run for the house, you're out there. He said, "Everyone who does this is a hometown hero."

[Jan Youngquist]

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