LBPD Guest Hour: Disaster Preparedness with Cecilia Warren

Natural disasters can happen at any time. The Department of Disabilities wants you to be prepared for any situation with a disaster plan.  Cecilia Warren Director for Emergency Preparedness Policy for the Maryland Department of Disabilities As the director for emergency preparedness policy for the Department of Disabilities, Ms. Warren ensures that emergency operations plans address the access and functional needs of people affected by a disaster.  She collaborates with partner agencies and organizations to incorporate access and functional needs planning into all emergency response and recovery aspects. Ms. Warren received an MBA and MS in Technology with a concentration in Homeland Security from UMUC. She earned a BS in Fire Science from UMUC and an AAS degree in Emergency Medical Services from AACC. Ms. Warren has also completed numerous courses sponsored by the National Fire Academy, Emergency Management Institute, and Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. She has developed several training programs for law enforcement and public safety agencies pertaining to the safe and efficient management of incidents involving people with disabilities. Prior to losing her eyesight, she served for nearly 20 years as a career fire officer and paramedic in the fire department. She is partnered with Yale, a Labrador Retriever who received his professional training at Guiding Eyes for the Blind in New York.