Sacramento County

Mary Jo Flynn-Nevins

Public Safety Steward

Building Alignment Under Pressure

Effective emergency management begins long before a disaster occurs. After spending more than two decades in emergency management, I have learned that effective leadership in high pressure situations is rooted in preparation, collaboration, and trust. In my role as Chief of Emergency Services for Sacramento County, my leadership approach is grounded in building strong, trusted relationships with executive leadership long before a disaster occurs. I see emergency management as an opportunity to bring “a little bit of order to chaos” by applying the processes and theories we regularly train on. During high pressure situations, I focus on ensuring that executives have the knowledge and confidence they need to make critical decisions. Trust cannot be established during the most difficult moments; it must be cultivated every day through steady engagement, clear communication, and reliability. Those same relationships become critical when multiple agencies must work together during an emergency.

Coordinating across agencies is one of the most challenging aspects of emergency management because all disasters are local, and so are all politics. Every partner brings unique priorities and responsibilities, and part of our job is creating alignment among them. Effective coordination requires ongoing communication and strong relationships with elected officials, community partners, and other stakeholders. I’ve found that sharing real stories about the impacts that emergencies have on people is an especially powerful way to build understanding and support. Elected officials want to know how decisions affect their constituents, and personal stories resonate in ways that data alone cannot. 

Preparedness in an Evolving Landscape

Once strong partnerships are established, effective communication becomes the cornerstone of emergency response. The foundation for effective communication during an incident is built long before it happens. Emergency managers operate at an executive level within the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), so it’s vital to cultivate trust and credibility early. I focus on being clear, concise, and consistent, providing leaders with the information they need and the confidence to act. My role is to apply structured processes that help guide the community through chaos. I also keep communication sharply focused, often using stories or examples that leaders can easily remember and share. The goal is to ensure that decisions are informed, timely, and aligned with the needs of the community.

"Trust cannot be established during the most difficult moments; it must be cultivated every day through steady engagement, clear communication, and reliability."

Because emergency environments evolve rapidly, leaders must stay flexible and adaptable while maintaining a clear sense of direction. I’m a firm believer in open and transparent messaging to build trust, minimize confusion, and ensure residents have the information they need to make decisions that impact them, their families, and neighbors. The ability to communicate effectively is becoming even mre important as emergency management continues to evolve.

There is increasing attention on federal level changes that may influence local policies, funding, and operational capacity. To adapt, I engage proactively with leadership, strengthen relationships at all levels of government, and ensure key decision makers understand the local impacts of these shifts. I also focus on crafting messages that resonate, particularly through storytelling that makes the risks and needs relatable. These strategies help ensure both preparedness and resilience in an evolving environment. Another emerging area is, of course, technology. Tools such as artificial intelligence are evolving rapidly and have the potential to improve planning, information sharing, and situational awareness. I’ve seen how important it is to integrate these tools thoughtfully and ensure our workforce has the training and support needed to use them effectively. From a professional standpoint, my work with the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) as the Second Vice President provides opportunities to build strategies around professional development, continuing education, and a path toward certification.  

Growing through Service

Looking ahead, the success of the profession will depend on the next generation of leaders. My advice for professionals in emergency management is to keep learning and never underestimate the value of relationships and service, because this field is built on collaboration, and the strongest leaders are those who listen, mentor others, and continually seek opportunities to grow. 

First and foremost: build strong relationships. Emergency management lives and breathes through collaboration with executives, elected officials, partners, and the community. Join and get involved in professional organizations like the International Association of Emergency Managers or a state emergency management association.

Second, push past any sense of impostor syndrome, remembering that leaders rely on you during disasters, which means you belong at the table long before an incident occurs.  

Third, develop the ability to communicate concisely and memorably, using storytelling to help others understand the value of our work and translate complex concepts into something leaders can easily share. Learning to effectively convey complex technical information relatable and memorable is a skill that needs to be honed and developed. Storytelling is a powerful tool in emergency management, bridging the gap between technical data, policy, and community action. 

Finally, be visible and engaged in the broader professional community by attending public forums, inviting officials to training exercises, participating in committees or caucuses, and taking opportunities that stretch your comfort zone, because some of the most impactful career growth happens through stepping forward and getting involved. Ultimately, emergency management is a profession rooted in service to communities, and by investing in yourself and staying actively engaged, you become better suited to help the people you serve.