County administrator appoints new emergency manager

There is now a new person in charge of overseeing response and recovery efforts in Yuma County during times of emergencies or disaster, whether it is man-made or natural.

Yuma County Administrator Robert Pickels has appointed Steven Rathbone to the position of emergency operations manager.

Rathbone replaces former Director Lou Miranda, who moved on to become the emergency manager for Pinal County, Ariz.

Miranda took over the position in March of 2007, after serving in the role for three months as the interim director.

The position of emergency operations manager oversees emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts throughout Yuma County.

Rathbone’s job responsibilities will include the specific task of assuring that Yuma County is ready to respond to emergencies, including acts of terrorism.

To that end, Rathbone will work with local, state and federal agencies to help improve the plans in place to deal with a terrorist attack in Yuma, including communication and response procedures between state agencies and local communities.

Rathbone has over 25 years of emergency service work in various capacities. He has served in California as the emergency services coordinator for the city of San Rafael, senior emergency planner for the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff in Martinez, safety program coordinator for the Berkeley Unified School District, emergency services coordinator for the county of Riverside and county disaster action team supervisor for the American Red Cross in Riverside.

Rathbone received both his juris doctor and bachelors of science in law from Newport University in Newport Beach, Calif.

On top of his education in law, Rathbone holds an associates degree in computer information systems.

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.