EMPower August Speaker Series: Sarah Russell

Our first Speaker Series highlights Sarah's career journey and pathway to becoming a strong leader in local level emergency management. They will share lessons learned along the way and challenges faced while excelling in the field of emergency management.

Sarah L. Russell was promoted to Commissioner of CEMA in May 2021. They joined CEMA in 2010 as a general specialist. In 2012, Sarah was promoted to Communications Center Coordinator taking responsibility for all notification and communication equipment and processes for the agency. In addition to those tasks, Sarah has served on a number of committees and advisory councils responsible for developing policy at the local, state and federal levels, and currently serves as the Secretary of the St. Louis Area Regional Response System Board of Directors.

An authority on social media, Sarah has been a sought after speaker for a number of organizations and councils looking to enhance their use of social media. Sarah was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security’s Science & Technology Directorate’s Social Media Working Group for Emergency Services and Disaster Management which has established best practices and solutions to be utilized by public safety officials throughout the nation.

Sarah is a member of the International Association of Emergency Managers, International Public Safety Association, Government Social Media Organization, and the National Information Officers Association. They also volunteer as a researcher at Bellefontaine Cemetery & Arboretum, with Team Rubicon a disaster response organization, and as a bugler, performing Taps at military ceremonies and memorial services in the St. Louis area.

Sarah has responded to several tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes across the country filling roles from incident commander to chainsaw operator.