Lincoln County Health and Human Services and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office have selected Jessica Palma as their new County Assistant Emergency Manager.
“Having Palma join our Emergency Management Team will be another asset to help our communities prepare, respond and recover from disasters,” County Emergency Manager Jenny Demaris said. “Her enthusiastic outlook and eagerness to build relationships among the health partners will serve Lincoln County well as we move forward in strengthening our community resilience.”
Palma, who will begin her new job August 1, has served Lincoln County for the last eight years — six of those working for Lincoln County Public Health. With a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education and as a Certified Prevention Specialist, her passion is helping local communities strengthen their health and resiliency. Over the past 18 months Palma served as a critical team member to both the Public Health COVID and Sheriff’s Office Echo Mountain Complex Fire response teams.
The assistant position is grant funded through the Oregon Health Authority and the Office of Oregon Emergency Management.
In January of 2014 Lincoln County Public Health and the Sheriff’s Office aligned both public health and the County emergency management programs under the direction of Demaris. This collaboration allowed the streamlining of program functions and the full time hiring of an assistant to support both programs.
A strong focus of Palma’s position is to liaison with public health community partners, promote advocacy relationships that serve vulnerable populations, continue to build up the Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer program and encourage promotion of preparedness efforts and developing response plans.
“It is very exciting to have Jessica transfer from our Health and Human Services team,” Public Health Director Florence Pourtal said. “She brings with her the necessary toolbox of public health preparedness skills, resources and a passion for helping communities with preparedness and resiliency planning.”
“We were very pleased with the interview panel’s recommendation to select Jessica as the Assistant Emergency Manager and feel her local knowledge of our County and county services will provide for a smooth transition to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff’s Office Lt. Adam Shanks said.
