Colbert County EMA Director thanks staff ahead of retirement
TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (WHNT) — Colbert County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and 9-1-1 Director Michael Smith announced he is retiring on April 1, after nearly 25 years with the agency.
Smith always had an interest in helping people and firefighting. When he was eighteen, he joined the White Oak Volunteer Fire Department.
After high school graduation, Smith accepted a part-time 9-1-1 dispatcher position with the agency. He grew within the agency and met the love of his life while working there.
Fast forward to 2019, he was promoted to director of Colbert County EMA and 9-1-1. He had big plans for the agency, and he was lucky to have a great group of people to back him up.
Smith completed multiple projects for the county residents, thanks to the support of his staff.
Some of these projects include partnering with RCND to provide free NOAA radios to residents, receiving funding for the first storm shelter within the Muscle Shoals city limits, and creating a free county alert system.
“Now that’s one of the things about our team, they never tell me no,” Smith said. “So even when I have one of those crazy ideas, they listen to it and next thing I know the wheels are turning on some stuff.”
In his line of work, you don’t go in each day for the money. It’s in your blood to help people and be there for them in an emergency.
His team has always been his biggest supporters and he is proud of what they have been able to accomplish in the past five years.
“Thank you for always being in my court, on my side of the court – standing beside me and not just behind me, but standing beside me,” Smith said. “For every project that we’ve done, for every response that you’ve made. For every emergency call that we’ve taken, every dispatch that we’ve made. Thank you for just being there and being willing to help people.”
After he officially retires, Smith will work with a company that handles 9-1-1 IP networks and other call-taking equipment.
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