DAWN DICKERSON

A Bit About Me

In 2009, Tropical Storm Ida made an unforgettable landfall in my hometown of Georgia. The places I had cherished as a child were suddenly submerged by flooding, and my community was thrust into turmoil because many individuals and families were not prepared to respond to or recover from the devastation of the storm. Though I was fortunate not to suffer displacement or property damage, this single event served as my initiation into the world of emergency management.

From widespread business closures caused by flooding, resulting in layoffs and job losses, to children facing prolonged absences from damaged classrooms, disrupting their routines. Families who were displaced sought temporary shelter in the Cobb Civic Center, while the surge in demand for housing in unaffected areas became apparent. Witnessing this devastation in my own community drove me to dedicate my career to helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

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Since that pivotal moment in 2009, I've spent the past 15+ years deploying to disasters across the nation, having spent 7 of those years working for and in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). And where public service has been both a passion and privilege, what I've continued to witness firsthand in the ongoing challenges of under-preparedness in small, rural, and under-resourced communities. Today, this demands my attention through a more focused approach. I firmly believe that the sets of challenges these communities face during disasters, no matter how intricate, are not insurmountable when comprehensive plans are put in place and the whole community is engaged. This persistent pain point and my belief in 'resilience building for all, without exception' is the spirit by which EM Disaster Solutions was created. 

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Partner with us today to create a safer, stronger and more resilient future for your community.

Warm regards, 

Dawn Dickerson, Founder