CitizensNet

May 5, 2020

Houston OEM Announces New Emergency Management Coordinator

Nickea Bradley has been appointed as Deputy Director for the City of Houston’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). In her role as the city’s new Emergency Management Coordinator (EMC), Bradley oversees the emergency management program for the nation’s fourth-largest city, which includes the coordination of disaster mitigation, planning, response, and recovery.

Prior to assuming her current role, Bradley served as the Bureau Chief of Long-Term Risk Reduction and State Hazard Mitigation Officer with the District of Columbia’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA). In this role, she oversaw the preparation of plans, applications, proposals and projects required to:

• Implement disability integration initiatives with inclusive strategies,
• Protect critical infrastructure from threats and hazards,
• Spread emergency preparedness through community outreach,
• Mitigate to reduce risk to the District,
• Facilitate public-private partnerships to enhance whole community collaboration, and
• Ensure the preparation of District government to utilize continuity of operations.

“Nickea Bradley’s experience and success working in emergency management at the nation’s capital is the kind of leadership the Office of Emergency Management needs as we quickly approach hurricane season and continue our long-term response to COVID-19,” said George Buenik, Director for the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security, to whom Bradley will report. “Her contributions to her field have led her to earn individual and team exemplary agency awards from senior leadership, and we’re excited to have her lead OEM as they prepare for and respond to the needs of the whole community.”

At both HSEMA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she has served in numerous emergency response roles, including logistics for COVID-19. She has also supported responses for Hurricanes (Joaquin, Jonas and Matthew), Flash Flooding (West Virginia), Avian Flu (Iowa) and major National events such as a Presidential Inauguration, Democratic National Convention, Nuclear Summit, and the 2019 World Series. Additionally, she has presented both domestically and internationally at trainings, workshops and conferences.

“I am excited to join the city's emergency management team and lead the office at this crucial time,” Bradley said. “I am eager to enhance Houston’s emergency capabilities and synergies with local, state and federal partners. I look forward to working with fellow members of the COVID-19 task force along with my staff at OEM as we continue our all-hazards approach to response.”

She has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Masters’ Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management. Additionally, she holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Grants Management certifications.

Ms. Bradley replaces Rick Flanagan, who retired at the end of April after 40 years of dedicated service to the city of Houston. Flanagan was previously appointed as Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Houston in 2014 after serving in the Houston Fire Department for over 34 years, where he retired as Executive Assistant Chief for Support.