Coker named emergency management coordinator
Recently appointed to the Young County Emergency Management Coordinator (YCEMC) position, Greg Coker brings more than just a wealth of experience, expertise and knowledge to his new role. Primarily, Coker is responsible for emergencies that occur within the county such as natural or man-made emergencies, which could be a fire, tornado, active shooter or hazmat spill, to name a few.
Coker helps law enforcement and first responders coordinate large events falling under the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is the first-ever standardized approach to incident management and response that was developed by the Department of Homeland Security and released in March 2004. NIMS establishes a uniform set of processes and procedures that emergency responders at all levels of government use to conduct response operations.
Coker wants the public to know that his priority for emergency management at a county level is to ensure the county’s emergency management plan is up-to-date, and to make sure Young County’s first responders have the training to deal with any emergency that may arise. Also, Coker wants the first responders to know they can come to him with questions and for training.
A valued member of the armed forces of the United States, Coker retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 where he piloted helos for several years. In the latter years, he piloted Cobra and Apache Helos. After completing special operations training at Fort Campbell, he joined the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) where he had an opportunity to fly the AH-6 Little Bird, which is a lightweight helicopter gunship reserved for special operations. Coker served our country with dedication and pride in such places as Afghanistan and Iraq among other tours of duty until his retirement in 2008.
Coker donates his time and expertise as a helo pilot along with other skills to help veterans at the Young County Warriors Ranch located in Graham Texas. The 20-acre ranch is a nonprofit organization that brings veterans together to enjoy hunting, fishing and fellowship. The ranch has a big pond for fishing, a bunkhouse that can sleep approximately 18, a small range and a large building for special events. The ranch is always open to Veterans 365 days of the year to bring their families or to enjoy solo. The ranch is much more than just a retreat or place to unwind, said Coker. Veterans are most comfortable talking and sharing with other veterans, and the ranch provides the platform to facilitate this desire. For additional information about the ranch, visit the Facebook page using the email: info@ycwarriorranch.com).
Annually, usually in March, the ranch hosts a hog hunt on a helo for approximately 24 veterans from all over the country. Invitees include active duty military, retirees and veterans. Coker said he enjoys watching the guys come in on the first night, which is usually a Thursday. And he said he enjoys watching their transition through that weekend as they unwind and relax. “The weekend is a weekend of friendship. The organization is a faith-based program that helps form friendships and allows the veterans to fellowship in a trusting environment. God Bless America,” Coker concluded.