On Thursday, March 12th, the Kingfisher Lions Club welcomed Randy Poindexter, Kingfisher County Emergency Management Director, as a guest speaker. Poindexter, a Navy veteran and former firefighter, shared his insights on county emergency management, ongoing projects, and ways the community can support public safety.
Poindexter, who grew up northwest of Edmond near Cashion and has extensive experience with the sheriff’s office and in construction, emphasized that his role as Emergency Manager is primarily to coordinate resources for first responders, including fire, EMS, and police, rather than serve as the primary responder himself. He works closely with state agencies, FEMA, regional partners, and local schools to ensure effective planning and rapid response to incidents such as fires, floods, and active shooter situations.
Poindexter highlighted several ongoing projects. The county has submitted FEMA paperwork for a storm shelter grant and anticipates receiving roughly $500,000 by mid-April, which will provide rebates for qualifying residents, with a second round of payments to follow. A countywide storm shelter database, including private cellars, is being developed to aid in emergency response. Two tornado sirens are currently inoperable, with a technician scheduled for repairs. Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses, has been provided to all schools, and training is being coordinated with Sheriff Aaron Pitts. County personnel are receiving LTAP/OSU heavy-equipment fire training, active shooter preparedness is being implemented in schools, and water tankers and hoses are being strategically provided for grass fire response. The county’s 911 center now includes cellphone ping tracking, improved CAD capabilities, and mapping integration across jurisdictions.
Poindexter remains active in fire responses and can step in as needed. During high fire-risk conditions called “War Days”, the two closest fire departments are automatically dispatched to incidents, and county resources, including brush trucks, tankers, and command vehicles, are monitored and reported to the state. He also addressed public safety concerns, noting the presence of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin in the county, underscoring the importance of Narcan availability and training. Residents were reminded to stay alert during storm season and avoid risky outdoor behaviors on high fire-risk days, such as open burning or discarding cigarettes.
Poindexter encouraged Lions Club members and other volunteers to support local preparedness efforts, including helping locate storm shelters throughout the county. He also reminded residents to be alert during storm and high-fire-risk days and to avoid risky outdoor burning behavior. Residents should know their emergency contacts and call 911 in emergencies or contact Randy Poindexter at 405-368-4124 for county emergency management issues. His presentation reinforced the importance of preparedness and community awareness in helping keep Kingfisher County safe.
Pictured are Lion Bill Reitz, Emergency Manager Randy Poindexter, Assistant Manager Pam Wilcox, and Lion Bonny Flesher.
