A Cinnaminson fire marshal has been appointed as the township’s new emergency management coordinator.
Danny Norman was named to a three-year term after interviews late last year with Frank Locantore, administrator, former committeeman John Rooney and Public Safety Director Michael King.
“I found him to be extremely qualified for the position based on many, many years of experience with emergency management,” Locantore said.
The emergency management coordinator is responsible for planning and coordinating any emergency management operations within the municipality. The coordinator must be a township resident and a member of an emergency management entity in Cinnaminson.
Emergencies in town aren’t always fire incidents or car accidents. The group, which also includes King, Fire Chief William Kramer, Superintendent of Public Works Fred Turek and more, must deem them emergency incidents.
“For example,” Locantore said, “a multi-car accident on Route 130 would not necessarily be a emergency management situation but a chemical spill that hits a utility pole discharging toxic material may be.”
Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy were both emergency situations where the team was assembled in preparation for the weather events.
“A command system [was] then put into place,” Locantore said.
Norman will also be in charge of updating and overseeing the municipality’s emergency management plan but was quick to say all departments play different roles in the township’s plan, including police, fire, public works, sewerage authority and the school district.
Norman’s job is to “coordinate these people and these different entities when there is a situation.”
He will also attend county emergency management meetings, FEMA meetings and more.
Cinnaminson Fire Commissioner Richard Dietrich was the previous coordinator. He will remain on the emergency management team. Norman will receive a yearly stipend of $5,200.
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Mr. Norman was spoken of quite highly at last weeks meeting. I look forward to having him represent the many citizens that are experiencing flooding.