New emergency director steps in with focus on school safety, disaster preparedness

After just over a month on the job, St. Joseph County’s new emergency management and homeland security director Josh Shook says he’s diving headfirst into planning, training, and updating procedures to better prepare the community for disasters — natural or otherwise.

“It already feels like I’ve been here a lot longer,” said Shook, who took over the role in May following the departure of his predecessor. “We’re still in the early stages of updating a lot of our emergency operations procedures, but it’s been great.”

Previously working as a Deputy Emergency Director for Elkhart county in Indiana, Shook feels he came prepared for this job.

Among the priorities inherited from the previous director are revising the county’s emergency operations plan and improving school safety protocols. While the groundwork for many of these efforts was laid earlier, the new director said a full rollout of training across departments had yet to begin when he started.

“We’re preparing for the next school year even though this one just ended,” he said. “We’re working on updating forms required by state statute so schools can conduct their safety drills according to the latest standards.”

One key focus is standardizing active assailant training across all schools in the county. While students themselves aren’t currently part of the drills, the emergency management office is working closely with school resource officers and district safety officials to keep protocols uniform and up to date.

Outside the classroom, the director is also overseeing preparations for the upcoming Three Rivers Water Festival, ensuring Sheriff’s Office equipment — including mobile command assets — are ready to support public safety partners during large events.

Training and preparedness make up the backbone of the job, he said, especially when it comes to ensuring both residents and public safety officials are equipped to respond to disasters ranging from tornadoes to terrorist threats.

“We want to prepare ourselves, but also be able to help neighboring counties if disaster strikes,” he said. “It’s not just about us. Mutual aid is essential.”

The director also coordinates with state and federal agencies, including the Michigan State Police, FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security, to stay ahead of potential threats. As hurricane season ramps up and severe summer weather becomes more frequent in Michigan, Shook urged residents to rely on multiple alert systems, such as weather radios and mobile alerts, instead of solely depending on tornado sirens.

The emergency management office also plays a role in recovery. Damage assessment teams are deployed after major weather events to evaluate property damage and identify unmet needs, which helps determine if the county can qualify for state or federal aid.

Longer-term, the director hopes to bring more public safety training opportunities to St. Joseph County, reducing the need for police and fire personnel to travel long distances for certifications.

“We have the facilities,” he said. “Let’s start using them so our first responders can get the same level of training right here at home.”

Najifa Farhat is a staff reporter with Watershed Voice.