IAEM-USA REGION 9

Gunnar J. Kuepper President - Region 9 Emergency & Disaster Management, Inc. Los Angeles, CA (310) 686-1390 Email: gunnarjkuepper@gmail.com
Carolyn M. Levering, MEd, CEM Emergency Manager City of Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV (702) 229-0313 clevering@lasvegasnevada.gov

Region 9 includes:

Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and Pacific Trust Territories, including American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands

Region 9 News

Region 9 President Meets with LA County EM Officials to Discuss the County's EM Needs and Realities (09 Dec 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper on Dec. 9 met with John Fernandes, Administrator at Los Angeles County Emergency Management, and his Deputy Steve Lieberman, to discuss emergency management needs and realities in the most populous county in the United States. The county is home to 88 incorporated cities, including the City of Los Angeles, and with its area of 4,083 square miles, is larger than the combined areas of the states of Rhode Island and Delaware. With 10 million residents, Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states. The four-hour meeting also covered lessons learned from the powerful windstorm of Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, which ravaged thousands of trees, downed more than 100 power poles, and left hundreds of thousands of households and businesses without electricity - many for days.

Region 9 President Attends Annual Dinner of LA Business and Industry Council on Emergency Preparedness and Planning (19 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA IAEM Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper attended the annual Awards Dinner of the Los Angeles BICEPP (Business and Industry Council on Emergency Preparedness and Planning) in Monrovia, CA. In his speech, he congratulated the group for its exemplary and successful efforts in public-private partnerships. Gunnar met with Nancy Matthews, BICEPP President; Daryl Osby, Chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department; Lucy Jones, Chief Scientist for the Multi Hazards Initiative in Southern California; Region 9 members Mike Ripley (NBC-Universal) and Chris Petrakis (Getty Museum); members of the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross, and private sector representatives.

Left to right: Nancy Matthews, BICEPP President; Lucy Jones, USGS and Chief Scientist for the Multi Hazards Initiative in Southern California; Gunnar J. Kuepper, IAEM-USA Region 9 President

Region 9 President Gives Keynote Address at Heroes Breakfast of Greater Los Angeles Red Cross (17 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar .J Kuepper gave the keynote speech on "Disaster Preparedness; Yesterday & Tomorrow" at the Heroes Breakfast of the Greater Los Angeles Red Cross. Actor David Spade, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, Walt Disney Company, Panda Restaurant Group, and Forever 21 were honored at the second annual Heroes Breakfast at the prestigious California Club. KTTV’s Fox 11 news anchor Christine Devine was the master of ceremonies for the event.

Region 9 President Appointed to IAEM-Global Board (17 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper on Nov. 17 was appointed as one of four U.S. representatives to the IAEM-Global Board. IAEM-USA President Hui-Shan Walker made the appointment, which was unanimously approved by the IAEM-USA board. Gunnar stated: "I'm very humbled to serve within President Hui-Shan Walker's team and to represent the interests of the U.S. membership on the Global Board, together with my friends and distinguished colleagues Ellis Stanley, Stephen Best, and Hui-Shan Walker, herself. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to strengthen the self-reliance of each council and to guide the Global Board's responsibilities from operational to an advisory and representative function."

Region 9 Hospitality Suite Was Great Success at IAEM-USA Annual Conference (16 Nov 2011) The IAEM-USA Region 9 Hospitality Suite at the IAEM-USA Annual Conference in Las Vegas proved to be a tremendous success. More than 300 IAEM members enjoyed the nine openings, hosted by IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Carolyn Levering and IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper. Guests included mostly Region 9 members, but also visitors from other Regions. A variety of IAEM-USA Board members and other IAEM leaders were guests at the Region 9 Hospitality Suite, including Ron Campbell (Region 4), David Christensen (Region 5), Marty Schaub (Region 8), Michael J. Kelley (Student Region), Ellis Stanley Sr. (Past IAEM President and Global Board Member), Bruce Lockwood (2nd Vice President), and Hui-Shan Walker (IAEM President).

Gunnar stated: "I'm very thankful for the many that made the Region 9 Hospitality Suite possible and successful. This includes Beth Armstrong and Clay Tyerar (provided the room), Carolyn Levering (tremendous logistical and other support), Urban Environmental Research - UER (provided not only food and beverages at Sunday's welcome reception but also staff for eight of the nine openings), particularly Miranda Jennings and Jeff Nelson from UER, Pete Weaver, Irene Navis, Kevin Schaller, Dennis Siler, Troy Harris, Hector Andrade, Davida Matthews, Steve Matles, Chris Petrakis, Pamela Mottice-Muller, Sandy Munns, Aaron Dick, Laura Whitehead, Chris Poehlmann, Abdul Chaudry, Greg Harrelson, Sherrie Collins, Breanna Medina, Holly Carpenter (staffed and supported the Hospitality Suite), and the many that donated beverages, snacks, and even cash to the worthwhile effort."

Region 9 Provides Themed Basket for the IAEM Scholarship Program (15 Nov 2011) IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Carolyn Levering, CEM, provided an outstanding Las Vegas-themed basket for the IAEM Scholarship Program, and IAEM-USA Region 9 member Keith Harrison (LA County) contributed with a significant donation.

Region 9 Holds Caucus Meeting at Annual Conference (13 Nov 2011) At the IAEM-USA Region 9 Caucus Meeting, Carolyn Levering, CEM, Emergency Manager with the City of Las Vegas, took the office of IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President. IAEM-USA Region 9 President Gunnar J. Kuepper and the entire caucus thanked outgoing IAEM-USA Region 9 Vice President Michael Martinet, CEM, for his years of outstanding service and commitment to the Region.

Also recognised for their exemplary service and contributions to the emergency management profession were IAEM members Fan Abel from Area E in Los Angeles County (by Gunnar J Kuepper) and Sandy Covall-Alves, Emergency Manager at Sonoma County (by Ray Riordan).

Region 9 President Provides Keynote Address at NC Texas Council of Governments Annual Meeting (31 Oct 2011) On Oct. 27, 2011, Gunnar J. Kuepper, IAEM-USA Region 9 President (7th term), provided the keynote address on "Predicting Disasters: Nothing happens out of the Blue" at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) Annual Emergency Preparedness Meeting in Grapevine, Texas. The NCTCOG serves a 16-county region centered around the urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth with a population of about 6.5 million.

During the afternoon, Gunnar Kuepper facilitated a discussion on "Focus on the Future: Priorities and Goals for North Central Texas 2012-2017." At the conference, Gunnar met with IAEM-USA Region 6 President Robbie Robinson, and a variety of Region 6 members, including Karen Adkins (City of McKinney) and Shane Stovall (City of Plano), as well as officials from FEMA, local and state emergency services, and elected executives.

From left to right: Chief Carl Smith, City of Midlothian Police; Phillip Mongeau, Region 1 Coordinator, Texas Department of Public Safety; Melanie Devine, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, NCTCOG; Gunnar J Kuepper; David McEntire, Professor at University of North Texas; Molly Thoerner, Emergency Preparedness Director, NCTCOG; Perry Bynum, EPPC Chair and Emergency Management Coordinator at City of Haltom.

Region 9 Participates in CESA Conference (07 Oct 2011) Gunnar J. Kuepper, IAEM-USA Region 9 President (7th term) attended the annual California Emergency Services Association (CESA) conference in San Diego, CA. He is seen here (from left to right) with IAEM Region 9 Member Olga Bruno (City of Azusa), Fan Abel with Los Angeles County Area E Disaster Management) and serving for 27 years (!) as the Treasurer for CESA Southern Chapter, as well as IAEM Region 9 Member Brenda Hunemiller (Los Angeles County Area D Disaster Management).

At the conference, Gunnar proctored an exam for 8 CEM candidates, and met with a variety of IAEM members, including Elizabeth Davis (EAD Associates), Laura Hernandez (Ventura County), Raymond Riordan (City of San Ramon), Chris Godley (City of San Jose), Anna Cave (City of Brea), Donna Boston (Orange County), Tony Coletta (City of Riverside), Katie Eing (City of Newport Beach), Chris Petrakis (Getty Museum), Jeff Robinson (City of El Segundo), Mike Ripley (NBC Universal), Don Silverek (EOP Design), Laura Wolbert (City of Fontana), Laura Whitehead (Town of Apple Valley), Keith Harrison (Los Angeles County), Brad Davis (City of Malibu), Vicki Osborn (Orange County), and Kelly Hubbard (Municipal Water District of Orange County), to name just a few.

Election Results from 2011 IAEM-USA Region 9 Officers Election (22 Sept 2011) The 2011 IAEM-USA Region 9 Officers Election ended on Sept. 21, 2011. Gunnar Kuepper was re-elected as Region 9 President, and Carolyn Levering was elected as Region 9 Vice President. A total of 161 Region 9 members voted in this election.

Region 9 News & Photo Archives 2009-2010

Region 9 News & Photo Archives 2006-2008