Emergency Preparedness Committee
The Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) is Minnesota’s principal organization for promoting, coordinating, and standardizing GIS use across all levels of the state's Emergency Management community. EPC membership is open to all individuals with an interest in using GIS for emergency preparedness and response.
The EPC is comprised of volunteers from the Emergency Services Sector (ESS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) community who are working to
improve and leverage use of geospatial technologies for emergency and disaster response. Members are employed by federal, state, county, local,
tribal, educational, nonprofit and corporate entities.
Featured Resources
Meetings
Meetings of the EPC are held quarterly and usually also include an educational presentation.
Upcoming Meetings
For connection information, contact the committee chair.
- October 9, 2025, 2-4 p.m., Virtual
Committee Leadership
- Chair: Britta Maddox, Anoka County Fire Protection Council, bmaddox@coonrapidsmn.gov
Charter, Accomplishments, and Workplan
Workgroups
Critical Infrastructure Assessment Workgroup
Mission: Develop a workflow for state critical facilities to be updated in statewide and national databases.
- Chair: Stacey Stark, GAC Higher Education Representative, slstark@d.umn.edu
Education Workgroup
Mission: Develop training standards and programs for the Minnesota GIS and Emergency Services Sector (ESS) communities that will promote productive interaction, provide training to those communities, and facilitate state and national training opportunities.
- Chair: Cory Richter, Ramsey County, cory.richter@ramseycounty.us
Related Resources
- Geospatial Emergency Management Specialist Curriculum (2010)
- NAPSG Qualifications and Credentialing Proposal (2015)
- FEMA GIS Position Qualifications
United States National Grid Workgroup
Mission: Promote use of the U.S. National Grid (USNG) in Minnesota through collaboration among implementing agencies and interested individuals. Create consistency within a national context by developing and sharing tools, standards, applications, and educational materials.
- Chair: Randy Knippel, Past EPC Vice Chair, rdknippel@gmail.com
Completed Initiatives
- Underground Utilities Mapping (2025)
- Situational Awareness Sharing Initiative (2020)
- Damage Assessment Standard (2017)
- Minnesota Structures Collaborative (2011)
- Minnesota Structures Collaborative (2010)
- Red River Valley Flood Mapping Support (2009)
- Republican National Convention Support (2008)
- HSEM Geographic Information Systems Capabilities Review (2008)
Return to Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council committees page