Home Emergency Management Professionals Week: Helmuth exemplifies public service
News

Emergency Management Professionals Week: Helmuth exemplifies public service

AFP
Paul Helmuth with a Trusted Service Value
Card. City employees receive such cards when they
are seen exemplifying one of the city’s values. Photo courtesy City of Harrisonburg.

Paul Helmuth, Harrisonburg’s deputy emergency management coordinator, is dedicated to the creation and maintenance of the city’s preparedness efforts.

In addition to leading the Regional Emergency Management Planning Committee Task Force and ensuring coordination of all regional partners for emergencies affecting our region, Helmuth authors the city’s Emergency Operations Plan, coordinates with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management on a wide array of issues including all notifications to the Statewide Emergency Operations Center, and plans large-scale exercises for disaster preparedness, in addition to numerous other responsibilities.

Helmuth is much respected in the field of emergency management across the Commonwealth, and has been highly involved in efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic in the Shenandoah Valley. His expertise and dedication to serving the people of Harrisonburg is much appreciated by his colleagues and friends.

“Emergency preparedness and the work Paul does is so vital to our mission of providing distinctive, reliable delivery of high[1]quality City services,” Harrisonburg Interim City Manager Ande Banks said. “As a city we don’t want to be reactive – we want to be proactive. And Paul’s diligence and attention to detail in his field ensures that our community will be prepared for anything and able to respond at a moment’s notice no matter the situation, saving lives and property in Harrisonburg.”

“Paul is a critical member of our team, focusing on ensuring the long-term health of our city, its residents and visitors,” Fire Chief Matthew Tobia said. “Often working behind the scenes, Paul’s impact extends far beyond emergency response and literally affects every aspect of our community.”

 




Featured Video

 

AFP

AFP

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and YouTube. Support AFP by signing up for our newsletter and/or powering our work with a one-time or monthly contribution.

Latest News

uva football jahmal edrine
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football: What the now-dismissed Jahmal Edrine case did to the 2026 season

uva football jahmal edrine
Football, Go 'Hoos

Rape, abduction charges against former UVA Football player Jahmal Edrine dismissed

The rape and abduction charges against former UVA Football player Jahmal Edrine have been dismissed, less than a month before Edrine was set to go before an Albemarle County jury for a scheduled four-day trial.

louise lucas abigail spanberger
Politics, Virginia

Spanberger on Louise Lucas indictment: ‘Presumed innocent until proven guilty’

Gov. Abigail Spanberger is taking the closest thing to the high road that she can take with respect to the news that her political nemesis, Louise Lucas, has been charged in a multi-count racketeering indictment by the Trump DOJ.

healthcare
Football, Go 'Hoos

UVA Football: Update on the injury list, with notes on key guys who are ‘out,’ ‘doubtful’

ty jerome uva basketball
Basketball, Go 'Hoos

UVA Basketball: Ty Jerome goes 45-7-6 for Memphis in season-opening win

northern virginia
Virginia

Virginia State Police trying to track down family of deceased Colorado man

richmond map
Virginia

Richmond man arrested in connection with Sept. 25 fatal hit-and-run