Crete EMA On the Scene When You Need Them

Crete EMA staff and responders joined kids at the activities table at a recent open house to draw and color, and talk about how emergency management serves the community. (Photo by Karen Haave)

By Karen Haave

“Crete Emergency Management Agency” doesn’t adequately describe what that organization does.

When it was founded in 1988, it was called the Emergency Services Disaster Agency, which is closer to truth: Its volunteers do a lot more than most people realize.

According to Ryan Allison, director of the agency for almost a year, Crete EMA is responsible for coordinating and managing responses to many types of emergencies and disasters.

“We play a crucial role in ensuring public safety, minimizing damage, coordinating together with other departments, agencies, organizations and the whole community and facilitating recovery efforts in times of crisis,” he said.

“Some of our primary responsibilities are Weather Spotting, Traffic Management/Control, Search & Rescue, maintaining the Village’s Emergency Operations Center, and Specialized equipment & vehicles.

“These services & equipment are available to the Village’s departments as well as communities across Will & Southern Cook Counties in times of need through Mutual Aid Agreements.

“Along with our core responsibilities members can specialize in certain teams or topics like; Search & Rescue Team, Communications Specialist, Lighting Specialist, Severe Weather Support, and Incident Management Support.

“Another one of EMA’s roles is ensuring all Village departments meet National Incident Management System standards, so we all ‘speak the same language’ and serve as clearinghouse for resource requests during incidents, striving to handle locally but being able to expand up to county, state, or federal as needed.”

Allison happily shared that information, and more, with the community during an open house recently hosted by EMA.

A Heavy Load

Tucked away in an unassuming 8,200-square-foot building on Exchange Street, the agency carries a heavy load of responsibility.

“Crete Emergency Management Agency (EMA) was originally founded as a Civil Defense Agency, later evolving into the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA),” Allison noted.

“Our team is automatically dispatched with the Crete Fire Department for accidents with injuries and structure fires to help protect the police and fire while they work a scene.”

In addition to Allison and Deputy Director Paul VanDeraa, the roster includes Captain Doug Blake, Sergeant Keith Miller, Sr., and responders Butch Most, Mike Vannier, Stacey Skaggs, Dave Spillers, Jason Walters, Joseph Calkins, James Walters, Robert Muir, Katelyn Tieri and Jack Gordon.

Responders are given “a small stipend” for answering calls, but are largely considered volunteers, Allison said.

“Most of our team averages eight to 15 hours per month; some are more active than others and consistently serve 150-plus hours every year.

“We average 20 ‘runs’ a month including, our weekly meeting/drill/training nights, special details, equipment and facility maintenance, Emergency & Weather Callouts. We typically respond to 5 five to 10 emergency callouts a month.”

A volunteer himself in the beginning of his career, Allison remembers the hardest part of the work being the late-night callouts. “But knowing we were being called to help our public safety team, our neighboring EMAs or helping a resident in their time of need made it so fulfilling,” he said.

“Ensuring you can overall give the time commitment can also be a weight to bear.”

He admits that being in charge of it all compounds both the responsibility and concern.

“As director, the most frequent worry I have is ensuring we will have availability to respond to callouts and requests. But I have strived to build a team-oriented and collaborative environment, not only within EMA but also with our other Village Departments and surrounding EMAs.

“Additionally, ensuring we have the proper equipment and resources available to respond to the ever evolving emergencies and incidents we face.

“I really enjoy the variety that EMA provides. No day or even hour can be the same and every single incident, trainings, or even meetings are different. You never know what’s going to be around the corner and being able to quickly and effectively plan and troubleshoot is always interesting.”

Equipment is Key

Allison pointed out that the village provides better-than-adequate equipment to get the job done.

“We have several specialty apparatuses such as, Scene Lighting- Light Truck & Light Towers, Snowmobiles, an ATV, an Incident Command Trailer, essentially a mobile office with incident paperwork, computers, radios and security cameras, and a Rehab Unit, one of few in the State which allows a heated or cooled space, with coffee and water for longer term incidents where responders can recover for a few moments before returning to the incident.”

Allison started his adventure with Crete in January 2013 as a Volunteer Responder with EMA and quickly joined the Search & Rescue Team on the Management Team.

“A little over a year after joining EMA as a volunteer, a Code Enforcement & Animal Control position became available. I applied and was eventually hired. For EMA I was promoted through to the ranks of Responder to Sergeant, to Lieutenant then in May of 2024 was appointed as EMA Director.”

Looking ahead, he said, “We plan on focusing on building volunteer responder morale, retention, and recognition.

“Additionally, we plan on seeking additional methods for member recruitment, which will allow us to better enhance our public education programs and participation in community events.

“The development of our team into ‘Professional Volunteers’ is our main goal and we plan to accomplish this by emphasizing individual strengths, core response capabilities, and maintaining high expectations for all members alongside additional apparatus specializations.”

Allison said that his volunteers all feel good about being part of EMA.

One of them told him, “Being a source of reassurance and support in times of uncertainty truly makes a difference. Knowing that people can count on you for safety and peace of mind, especially when the situation is tense or chaotic, is incredibly fulfilling. It’s not just about the immediate help you’re providing, but also the lasting trust you’re building within the community.”

Another volunteer said, “I work with EMA, not only because it is such a passionate, devoted group of people but also to help out and be a part of the community we all love so much.

“I truly wanted to be there when people need us most. Not on the good days but on their bad days, to be a comforting face in crummy situations. Also, to keep the Police and fire departments safe while they did their jobs, they always show up when we need them they needed someone to return the favor.”

Anyone interested in joining Crete EMA can stop in at the Village Hall and complete an application that will be submitted to the membership committee for review.

“Anyone applying must be at least 18 years of age,” Allison added, “be a resident of the Village of Crete or Crete Township, have a valid driver’s license, pass a physical examination, undergo a background check, and not be a member of any other surrounding EMA/ESDA or Fire Department.”

Karen Haave is a freelance reporter.

Kaison, age 5, had some fun at the Crete EMA open house, sizing up the EMA gear. It’ll be a few years before he can wear it, though. Photo by Karen Haave)