FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2019


Missouri emergency management official named State Employee of Month for his key role in 2019 disaster recovery


Ron Broxton, a member of the leadership team at Missouri’s State Emergency Management Agency, has been named Missouri State Employee of the Month for the key role he has played assisting the state recover from flooding and severe storms in 2019. SEMA is a division of the Department of Public Safety.

“Ron Broxton’s vast disaster recovery experience, his expertise in understanding the details of the federal disaster declaration process and recovery programs, and his incredible work ethic make him an invaluable asset for our state and our ability to help Missouri communities recover from natural disasters,” Missouri Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said.      

Broxton, who has served as the state SEMA’s Recovery Division Manager for more than five years, plays a critical role each time Missouri is impacted by a natural disaster. He is solely responsible for coordinating the collection of data and preparing the official request – a highly structured, technical document – for the state to receive a Presidential Disaster Declaration. A disaster declaration typically means tens of millions of dollars in federal assistance will become available to help Missouri communities recover from everything from flooding to ice storms.

In 2019, Missouri has dealt with multiple rounds of river flooding, flash flooding and tornadoes and severe storms. As a result, the state received two different disaster declarations for flooding and severe storms within two months based on Broxton’s documentation. Presidential disasters were declared for Missouri on May 20 and July 9.

Despite this demanding task, Broxton makes himself available to all local jurisdictions with questions and to support their requests for inclusion in disaster declarations. He routinely alters or cancels family activities to meet the demands of this critical position.

Broxton’s knowledge and understanding of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s many recovery and mitigation programs also make him an invaluable asset to SEMA. Broxton manages SEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, Flood Mapping Section and Disaster Mitigation Section. 

“Ron sets an outstanding example for his colleagues throughout SEMA, DPS and state government as a whole. He’s very deserving of this honor for all his hard work” State Emergency Management Agency Director Ron Walker said.  






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For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov