Maas named state’s top emergency professional

For the second time in as many years, Dodge County’s Matt Maas is the state’s top emergency professional.
On Thursday, Maas was awarded the Minnesota Emergency Management Professional of the Year through the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s division of Home Security and Emergency Management (HSEM). Maas is the emergency management director for Dodge County. Maas received the award at the Governor’s Breakfast in Brooklyn Center. Preparedness and Recovery Bureau Director Brian Olson cited several reasons for awarding Maas with the honor once again. They included his work during the weather and flood emergencies facing Dodge County in early 2019. Maas also was instrumental in organizing a visit from Gov. Tim Walz to survey the flood-ravaged areas of the county. HSEM recognizes emergency managementpractices, procedures, initiatives and involvement throughout the state. Each year the Governor's Conference is used to recognize and honor persons who have made special or significant contributions to the field of emergency management and have represented the profession exceptionally by their outstanding performance.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to get recognized with this award at the Governor’s Conference once, but to be recognized twice for his work really only just begins to recognize the quality of Matt’s
work and his dedicatio to our county and its citizens," said Sheriff Scott Rose, Maas' boss. "The extent of knowledge and skills required to do Matt’s job makes it arguably one of the most complicated and under appreciated professional positions in the county.” Rose pointed out that Maas was inundated with major weather events that included three disaster declarations through the state and federal governments. In each case, Maas worked with organizations like the Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA.
On the local level, Maas assisted cities and townships with working their way through the process of cleanup and assistance to those affected, Rose said.
A few years ago Maas worked on the bird flu with state and federal officials, according to Rose. In his role, Maas works annually with city and event coordinators to assess, develop and implement emergency plans to ensure public safety.
He manages and organizes the county’s storm spotter program ensuring proper notification for storm warnings and incidents throughout the entire county.
Maas has been a part of many local, regional and state boards and committees including being very involved with several involved in the administration and management of regional enhancements to the statewide public safety radio communications system (ARMER) in accordance with the Statewide Public Safety Radio Plan.
In addition to being emergency management director, Maas is the director of the county’s 911 Dispatch Center, assistant fire chief with Dodge Center and serves on the Dodge Center City Council.
“Bottom line is Matt is our go to guy,” Rose said. “If there is a crisis, critical incident, weather event, mass casualty event or public safety event, he is the first person I call. We couldn’t be more blessed to have Matt here in Dodge County.”
 
 

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