Anderson Confirmed Director of Will County Emergency Management Agency

Will serve as agency’s fourth director.

County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant has appointed Allison Anderson as Director of the Will County Emergency Management Agency. She succeeds Harold Damron, who retired in March after a 31-year career with the agency. Anderson’s appointment was confirmed recently by the Will County Board.

“I am pleased to appoint Allison to continue the strong leadership of Will County’s EMA department,” said Bertino-Tarrant. “Her experience and knowledge will provide stability, as well as offer a vision to move us forward.”

Anderson joined the county in September 2013 as an Emergency Response Specialist with the Health Department. She joined the Emergency Management Agency in December 2014, where she continued to coordinate and develop strategic, operational, and tactical plans for the county’s response for emergencies.

Serving as Deputy Director since June 2018, Anderson has managed the training and exercise programs required annually by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal safety agencies.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead this agency and the dedicated team of professionals and volunteers who work hard to keep our residents safe,” said Anderson. “Emergency planning is not something people think about every day, but we are always training and learning the best way to respond in any type of emergency. I will strive to keep Will County a leader in all our emergency responses.”

Anderson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology in 2008 from Northern Illinois University. She is a Certified Emergency Manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers and received her Illinois Professional Emergency Manager’s Certification in 2015.