Preparedness Is the Price of Authority

Preparedness Is the Price of Authority

by | May 20, 2026 | Emergency Management, Preparedness Blog

Why State Leadership Demands More Than Just Responsibility 

As states assume greater authority in emergency management, the stakes have never been higher. Recent shifts in federal policy mean that responsibility—and the power to act—now rests more firmly in the hands of state leaders. But with this authority comes a critical obligation: readiness is no longer optional.  

Authority Shifts Closer to Incidents 

The FEMA Review Council Report has accelerated a transition from federal oversight to state ownership in emergency response. This change places states at the forefront when incidents occur, requiring leaders to make rapid decisions and coordinate efforts without waiting for federal intervention.  

Readiness Is No Longer Optional 

With increased authority comes the expectation of preparedness. States must ensure that their plans, personnel, coordination structures, and systems are ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice. The ability to act decisively in the face of disaster is now a core requirement—not a luxury.  

Decision Rights and Coordination Must Be Executable 

It’s not enough to have decision-making authority on paper. States must be able to execute those rights in real-world scenarios, coordinating seamlessly across agencies and jurisdictions. This demands robust operational plans and a culture of collaboration that can withstand the pressures of a crisis.  

Practical Next Steps: Readiness Assessment and Exercise Validation 

To meet the demands of their new authority, states should begin with a comprehensive readiness assessment. This identifies gaps in planning, personnel, and systems—allowing leaders to address vulnerabilities before they are exposed by a disaster. Following assessment, exercise validation ensures that plans and coordination structures function as intended under realistic conditions.  

 The Price of Authority Is Preparedness 

As states step up to take the lead in emergency management, they must recognize that authority comes at a cost: the unwavering commitment to preparedness. Those who invest in readiness today will be equipped to protect their communities tomorrow.  

  • Authority shifts closer to incidents → readiness is no longer optional 
  • Decision rights + coordination must be executable 
  • Practical next steps: readiness assessment + exercise validation 

Prepare to lead—before disaster requires it. 

The Future of Emergency Management is State Led

Learn more about the changes on the horizon and how SummitET can help you prepare.

Click Here
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What the FEMA Review Council Report Means for Governors and State EMAs

What the FEMA Review Council Report Means for Governors and State EMAs

by | May 20, 2026 | Emergency Management, Preparedness Blog

Strategic Next Steps for State Leaders

What Changed: From Federal Lead to State Ownership

The FEMA Review Council Report marks a significant shift in the future of the disaster management landscape. Where once the federal government took the lead, states begin preparing to move to the forefront to assume primary responsibility for disaster preparedness and response. Once this transition is final, state governments must be ready to execute—not just fill out paperwork. Ownership will rest with governors and Emergency Management Agencies (EMAs), demanding a new level of operational readiness and leadership from state authorities.

Why It Matters: Greater Authority and Responsibility

With increased authority comes increased responsibility. States are empowered to make critical decisions closer to the incident, but this also means they must be prepared to handle complex situations quickly and effectively. The new paradigm prioritizes readiness and risk reduction over reimbursement, emphasizing the need to prepare better, recover faster, and depend less on post-disaster federal support.

What States Need: Plans, Personnel, Coordination Structures, Systems

To meet these new expectations, states require robust plans, dedicated personnel, well-defined coordination structures, and technology-enabled systems. Continual preparedness, not just document-centric planning, is essential.

Exercises and training should focus on building leadership, clarifying decision rights, and improving coordination. States must justify mitigation investments with operational clarity and adopt a two-phase mitigation model to ensure both funding and effectiveness.

What to Do Next: Prepare to Lead—Before Disaster Requires It

The call to action is clear: “Prepare to lead—before disaster requires it.” Governors and EMAs should assess their readiness now, identify gaps, and create a roadmap for continual improvement. Conducting readiness assessments and exercise validations will ensure that states are not caught off guard and are ready to execute when it matters most.

  • Review current plans and systems for execution-readiness, not just compliance.
  • Invest in personnel and training that empower leadership and decision-making.
  • Clarify coordination structures and decision rights to enable fast, effective response.
  • Leverage technology to build a continual preparedness system. See if Previstar is a good fit for your state.
  • Justify mitigation investments through operational clarity and outcome-driven metrics.

As authority shifts closer to the state level, the price of that authority is sustained preparedness. States must not wait for disaster to force their hand; now is the time to assess, plan, and lead.

Learn more about preparing your state to take control.

The Future of Emergency Management is State Led

Learn more about the changes on the horizon and how SummitET can help you prepare.

Click Here
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Adam Montella Appointed as New President of ACP Mid-Florida Chapter

Adam Montella Appointed as New President of ACP Mid-Florida Chapter

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Emergency Management, SummitET News

Leadership Transition Marks New Era for Renowned Business Continuity Organization

The Mid-Florida Chapter of the Association of Contingency Planners (ACP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam Montella as its new Chapter President. Adam, who also serves as Chief Operations Officer at SummitET, steps into the role following the tenure of Eric Olson, who led the chapter for over two decades, guiding its growth and strengthening its reputation within the business continuity and disaster recovery community.

Founded in January 1993 and officially recognized by the Association of Contingency Planners in February of the same year, the ACP Mid-Florida Chapter has served as a cornerstone for professionals seeking to enhance their organization’s resiliency and contingency strategies. The chapter proudly serves members across a broad region, reaching as far west as Tampa and as far south as Miami, reflecting its commitment to supporting professionals throughout Central and South Florida.

The chapter regularly hosts monthly meetings, fostering a collaborative environment where industry experts and newcomers alike can exchange ideas and best practices. The first meeting is complimentary for guests, with ongoing membership required for continued participation in events and networking opportunities.

Adam Montella headshot

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Eric Olson, whose leadership has been instrumental in building this supportive community,” said Adam Montella. “I look forward to working with our members to continue advancing the field of business continuity and disaster recovery throughout the Mid-Florida region.”

Professionals interested in learning more about the ACP Mid-Florida Chapter or attending an upcoming meeting are encouraged to visit https://acp-international.com/midflorida for additional information.

SummitET News

Montgomery County Office of Public Health

Montgomery County Office of Public Health

by | Nov 23, 2025 | Client Success Story, Emergency Management, Health and Medical

Background

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is committed to safeguarding its residents through robust emergency management and public health strategies. Recognizing the growing complexity of emergencies—from natural disasters to public health crises—the Montgomery County Office of Public Health (OPH) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) sought to ensure their plans and operations were fully aligned and capable of addressing diverse threats. To achieve this, they partnered with SummitET, a leader in emergency preparedness and response, to enhance coordination, clarify roles, and strengthen operational alignment across public health and emergency management functions.

Mission Need

The central mission was to bridge gaps between OPH and DPS, ensuring both agencies could respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies. There was a critical need for comprehensive, integrated plans, clear role definitions, and training resources that would empower personnel to act decisively. The goal was to create unified strategies, tools, and exercises that would enable Montgomery County to protect its community under any circumstance.

Solution

SummitET delivered a multi-faceted initiative designed to transform Montgomery County’s emergency management and public health preparedness:

  • Comparative Plan Review: Conducted a detailed comparison between the OPH Incident Response Plan and the DPS Emergency Operations Plan to ensure seamless operational alignment and integration between public health and emergency management functions.
  • Gap Analysis & Stakeholder Engagement: Assessed existing plans against federal and state standards, while hosting virtual town halls to gather real-world insights and foster active stakeholder involvement.
  • Actionable Tools: Developed an Emergency Response Matrix that clearly defines agency roles, responsibilities, and unified command structures. Additionally, rapid-response “break-glass” playbooks were created for five high-risk incident and accident scenarios, enabling immediate, coordinated activation of relevant agencies for timely and effective response.
  • Training Roadmaps: Produced in-depth, role-specific onboarding guides for OPH and DPS personnel to accelerate readiness and ensure consistent emergency response capabilities across agencies.
  • Interactive Exercise: Facilitated an in-person, scenario-based workshop featuring six realistic scenarios to test and validate cross-agency collaboration and the newly developed emergency response matrix.

Result

Through this comprehensive partnership, Montgomery County now benefits from stronger, more integrated emergency response plans and tools. The collaborative efforts led to enhanced coordination between OPH and DPS, clarified roles and responsibilities, and streamlined operational alignment. Personnel are equipped with practical, actionable resources and training, improving their readiness for real-world incidents. The interactive workshop validated these improvements, ensuring agencies can work together seamlessly during emergencies.

Conclusion

“By strengthening emergency preparedness collaboration across departments, we’re building more resilient communities and ensuring every resident benefits from a stronger, more connected system,” said Christina Miller, Administrator, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health.

SummitET’s partnership with Montgomery County OPH and DPS marks a significant advancement in public health and emergency management preparedness. Through detailed plan reviews, stakeholder engagement, actionable tools, targeted training, and realistic exercises, the county is now better positioned to protect its community during emergencies. This success story demonstrates the value of collaboration, innovation, and strategic planning in building resilient communities.

Read the Press Release. 

 

State of California, Office of Emergency Services

State of California, Office of Emergency Services

by | Nov 22, 2025 | Client Success Story, Emergency Management

Background

The California WMD Summit was established to enhance the state’s readiness for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) incidents through the Office of Emergency Services. This annual event aims to bring together key agencies and organizations to strengthen collaboration and improve multi-jurisdictional response capabilities.

Mission

The summit’s mission is to provide comprehensive WMD response training for the State of California and unite the four FBI offices through a complex, multi-city, multi-jurisdictional, all-hazard training exercise. By fostering interagency cooperation, the summit ensures that participants are well-prepared to address a range of potential threats and emergencies.

Solution

SummitET played a pivotal role in planning and executing the 2023 and 2024 WMD Summit. The team supported CalOES by developing and facilitating the Tabletop Exercise (TTX), coordinating closely with the FBI WMDD, and providing Observer/Controller and PIO/EOD SME support for the Full-Scale Exercise (FTX). This hands-on approach ensured that all participants received practical experience and expert guidance.

Result

The 2024 CalOES WMD Summit saw an impressive turnout, with 245 participants representing approximately 110 departments, agencies, organizations, and private companies.

SummitET has consistently supported the summit since 2022 and recently completed the 2025 event in Los Angeles, reflecting a strong ongoing partnership. The WMD Summit provides invaluable networking opportunities and fostered a deeper understanding among all stakeholders.

As one anonymous participant shared, “Overall, I thought this was an amazing exercise and experience. The networking and greater understanding of what others are doing to prepare for potential WMDs was invaluable!”

Conclusion

The California WMD Summit continues to set the standard for collaborative emergency preparedness. SummitET’s expertise and dedication have been integral to the event’s success, helping to ensure California’s agencies are equipped to respond effectively to WMD incidents. The sustained partnership and positive feedback demonstrate the lasting impact of this vital training initiative.

Bridging the Gap Episode 16: The Evolution and Capabilities of Previstar®: A Journey Through Time

Bridging the Gap Episode 16: The Evolution and Capabilities of Previstar®: A Journey Through Time

by | Sep 2, 2025 | Bridging the Gap, Emergency Management, Preparedness Blog

In this episode of “Bridging the Gap,” Adam Montella, COO, along with Mark Amann, CPO, and Himadri Banerjee, CTO, delve into the fascinating history and capabilities of Previstar®, a software that has played a pivotal role in emergency and incident management for over two decades.

A Journey Through Time

Adam Montella’s journey with Previstar began 20 years ago when he was one of the original customers of its precursor, RamSafe. Developed at Oak Ridge National Labs by Himadri Banerjee and his team, RamSafe was an innovative software that transformed a static spreadsheet predicting morbidity, mortality, and resource needs for chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction into a dynamic tool.

From RamSafe to Previstar

The software’s evolution continued as it was used in various real-world scenarios, including managing resources during the 2004 hurricane season in Florida and the response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. These experiences helped shape Previstar into a comprehensive emergency management tool.

Capabilities of Previstar

Previstar is a whole lifecycle emergency and incident management software with various modules designed to aid in planning, response, and recovery. The software includes modules for planning, organizing around FEMA’s CPG 101, managing the tracking and deployment of resources, and handling costs associated with incidents. It also features an exercise module and a robust Geographic Information System (GIS) interface, making it accessible even for smaller jurisdictions without a GIS specialist.

Technological Advancements

Himadri highlights the technological advancements integrated into Previstar, including the use of AI and machine learning. These technologies enable the software to predict resource needs with high accuracy and assist in planning and response efforts. The integration of large language models like OpenAI and Meta’s Llama further enhances the software’s capabilities, making it a powerful tool for emergency management.

A Product Built by Practitioners for Practitioners

One of the unique aspects of Previstar is that it was built by emergency managers for emergency managers. Himadri’s firsthand experience in the field, combined with his expertise in technology, has resulted in a product that truly understands and meets the needs of its users.

Looking Ahead

With SummitET’s acquisition of Previstar, the software is set to continue its evolution and enhancement. The combination of Previstar’s dynamic technology and SummitET’s subject matter expertise promises to deliver even better solutions for emergency management in the future.

Previstar’s rich history and advanced capabilities make it a standout tool in the field of emergency management. Its journey from RamSafe to a comprehensive incident management tool is a testament to the dedication and expertise of its team. As technology continues to advance, Previstar is poised to remain at the forefront of emergency management solutions.

Request a personal demo of Previstar

Meet the Experts Featured in This Podcast

Himadri Banerjee

Himadri Banerjee

Chief Technology Officer; Developer of Previstar CPS; Incident Management Tech SME

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Adam Montella headshot

Adam Montella

Chief Operations Officer; Disaster Management SME

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Mark Amann

Mark Amann

Chief Products Officer; Emergency Management SME

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