Photo Provided Tom Hart is celebrating 25 years as director of the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency.

MOUNDSVILLE — Tom Hart is celebrating his 25th anniversary as director of the Marshall County Emergency Management Agency.

And next year, he will be celebrating his 32nd year with Marshall County.

Hart began his career as a 911 operator for the Marshall County 911 system 32 years ago. After seven years, he moved into the director position where he has been ever since.

Hart has seen a lot of changes happen in the last 32 years and worked through major and life-altering incidents while at the EMA.

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa. stand out for Hart.

“I recall and remember so many different incidents but never really thought about how many there have been collectively, and after 25 years, there have been a lot once you add them all up,” he said. “Of course, Sept. 11, 2001, sticks out in my mind because I believe that was a pivotal moment of change in emergency management.

“A lot of concern, confusion and unknowns that day,” he said. “Multiple conference calls and 16-hour days for almost three weeks.”

Another major incident that occurred nearly 20 years ago involved a massive fire at the AEP Mitchell electric power plant’s new smoke stack. Three men were rescued and a fourth man died during the fire.

“One incident locally that I believe to this day where a little luck was on our side was the workers trapped on the top of the new smoke stack at the Mitchell Plant in March 2006,” Hart said. “It was very cold that night, however, it was clear, the stars were out,” Hart said. “A rescue helicopter from the Maryland State Police, which had just gone into service, was brought in to lift the workers from the top of the stack and taken to the Marshall County Airport where EMS personnel were standing by.”

Providing information to the media following the rescue also stood out as Hart reflected on the incident.

“After the last worker had been rescued, we knew we would have to conduct a press conference to provide an update on the situation. Route 2 had been closed for several hours,” he said. “It was around 10:30 p.m. Speaking with then Sheriff and now County Commissioner John Gruzinskas and then Chief Deputy and current Magistrate Kevin Cecil, we conducted a live press conference and situation briefing at 11 p.m. that night right on Route 2 in front of the plant.

“All the media there were advised and were permitted to our location. It went over well with the media reps there from the tri-state area. By the next morning, we had communicated with approximately 222 different media outlets from across the country and world.”

Hart said there have been many changes in the business of emergency management.

“Technology has drastically changed over the past 25 years and continues to evolve on a regular basis,” he said. “While you embrace those changes, however, I believe you should learn about it, gain an understanding and proceed with caution with rapidly developing technology — not jumping in right away with both feet.

“Sometimes it’s better to watch and see. To see if, for one, is it going to work, get the bugs worked out, and two, will it benefit our operation and will it work for us? Is it worth the cost? It’s not always best to be the first or first one out of the gate with something new.”

Hart noted emergency management’s role across the country has expanded tremendously over the years

“I believe Emergency Management has become comprehensive and its role has expanded substantially, particularly since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005,” he said. “We work with a multitude of agencies and entities such as 911, public health, fire service, law enforcement, EMS, hospitals, school systems, etc. on planning, response, recovery, training and emergency drills and exercises. We work with local, state, federal and private sector partners. It’s very comprehensive.”

Hart believes the role of emergency management in public safety matters will continue to grow.

“How it evolves requires a bottom-up and local approach to address community needs that can be tactical in nature; not at the highest levels where it’s only policy and the same for everyone [with] a cookie cutter approach,” he said. “We have to address our needs and concerns within our community collectively among our community partners.”

Hart said one of the biggest projects he has been involved with is related to improving emergency communications for Marshall County.

“There have been major projects in Marshall County related not only to public safety but services for the community as well over the past several years from improving emergency communications, emergency public notifications and emergency medical services,” he said.

“These have all been large, collaborative projects that have taken teams of people to work together, different entities and in some cases public and private entities coming together to make things happen and ideas become reality.

“Some of these projects, for example, brought Marshall County onto the Statewide Interoperable Radio Network more than 15 years ago. As part of it, it was realized the need for a communications tower in the southeastern corner of the county. Along with County Administrator Betsy Frohnapfel with the support of the County Commission, we worked for over two years in a public private partnership with Consol Energy, Crown Communications and eventually the West Virginia Tower Assistance Grant committee to obtain the land and funding to construct the tower but most importantly, a cellular provider that would bring much needed cell phone service to southeastern Marshall County.”

Another project was starting the Marshall County Emergency Medical Services, a collaboration between Hart, the county commission, Frohnapfel and Carol Robinson — then the assistant 911 director and now the director. Hart noted this may have been “one of the largest projects undertaken by the county.” There are full-time medical transports with stations in Cameron and Moundsville.

The EMA also started a countywide emergency-mass-notification system.

“The system can not only be utilized to notify the public of emergencies, disasters or for other important notices. Public safety and public service entities have access to utilize it as well,” Hart said. “Law enforcement, EMS, fire departments and 911 can use the mass-notification system to quickly notify staff of call outs, meetings, etc. Also, public water systems in Marshall County have access as well to notify customers of boil orders, service interruptions or other issues.

“WVU Medicine Reynolds Memorial Hospital utilizes the system-alert-area 911 Centers, EMS crews, EMAs and their staff in the event their emergency rooms are on diversion or to notify staff of other matters. It’s used every day. Marshall County EMS uses it daily to notify their staff. It’s been a great tool for a lot of different entities.”

Hart has also served as a volunteer in public safety for 38 years as a volunteer firefighter and volunteer EMS. He also worked as a dispatcher for law enforcement.

In 2010, he was named West Virginia Emergency Manager of the Year. He also received the Consol Energy Citizenship Award in 2010. In 2020, he received the Department of Homeland Security Freedom Award from then Gov. Jim Justice for both Perseverance and Teamwork.

Hart also served as an officer with the West Virginia Emergency Management Council for 21 years including as its President, Vice President and Executive Board Member.

Hart has served as a voting member on the West Virginia State Interoperable Executive Committee that oversees the statewide radio system. He is also chairman of the WV Homeland Security Region 2 Regional Interoperable Communications Committee and wrote the by-laws for all six regional committees across the state.

Hart, a 1989 graduate of Cameron High School, resides near Cameron with his wife of 25 years, Tiffany Hart. When he is not working, Hart enjoys spending time with his wife, family and friends. He also enjoys watching his nieces and nephews and the activities they participate in.