LOFTIS HONORED WITH DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Kingfisher County’s Emergency Manager, Steve Loftis was honored at last week’s Oklahoma Emergency Management Association (OEMA) Conference. Steve was given the Northwest Oklahoma Director of the Year award as well as the OEMA Lifetime Contribution Award. 

OEMA represents the interests and efforts of state, county, municipal, and tribal emergency managers across Oklahoma. Their mission is based on a strong emphasis on preparedness and by orchestrating efficient emergency response and disaster recovery operations.

Steve started his career by responding to an ad he saw in 2000 applied and was hired as the Civil Defense and Emergency Resources Manager for Kingfisher County. In 2003 the state legislature changed that title to Emergency Manager. Many of the Emergencies Loftis has dealt with include natural disasters, such as fires, tornados, and ice storms, or man-made disasters like oil leaks or chemical releases. 

His first emergency came during the December 2001 ice storm that crippled much of Oklahoma.  One of his latest disaster responses came with the Covid epidemic in 2020.  One role he assumed during the pandemic involved transferring supplies to towns in northwest Oklahoma.  He transferred state-provided personal protective equipment (masks, hazmat suits, cleaning supplies, etc.) to nursing homes, police headquarters, doctors’ offices, and schools from Oklahoma City to Woodward weekly.  

Steve has been Kingfisher County’s Emergency Manager since 2000 and is retiring on March 29th.  Photos provided.

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