FL: Teresa Scott, P.E. PWLF, Reappointed to FEMA’s National Advisory Council

The American Public Works Association (APWA) member and city of Gainesville Public Works Director, Teresa Scott, P.E., PWLF, has recently been reappointed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Advisory Council (NAC).

Scott was selected for reappointment to the NAC by FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate. Five reappointed members and ten newly appointed members make up a total of fifteen members of the Committee that provides the best possible input in the development and revision of the national preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Incident Management System, and the National Response Plan, and other emergency related plans and strategies for FEMA.

“Teresa Scott’s reappointment to FEMA’s National Advisory Council reinforces her extensive public works expertise and experience in emergency management planning and preparedness,” said APWA Executive Director Peter B. King. “She is one of the most highly qualified emergency management experts in the public works profession. With her strong credentials and professional experience, her participation in the NAC will again enhance greatly the FEMA and public works emergency management efforts and initiatives,” King said.

On a national level, Scott served on APWA’s Emergency Management Technical Committee for six years, serving as chair for two years, and is also currently a member of the APWA Emergency Management Mitigation Subcommittee. She was also a member of the APWA/FEMA Partnership Task Force for five years, and has written numerous articles on emergency management issues.

“Public works plays a crucial role in preparing, protecting and restoring local communities in an emergency, and I’m honored to have been selected again by Administrator Fugate to serve in this important role on FEMA’s NAC and to again serve as the vice chair,” Scott said. “As we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, it’s vitally important to work together with state, local and federal partners as we make stronger our emergency management planning and response to disasters, both natural and man-made,” she said.

As the public works director for the city of Gainesville, Fla., Scott serves on the Alachua County Unified Command Team, and the emergency management executive team. She was lead writer for the public works department emergency management operations plan and continuity of operations plan. She has served as incident commander for public works for three declared disaster events during the 2004 hurricane season. She also oversees Gainesville’s Public Works Department’s University of Florida’s stadium game day operations planning.