New York

Hudson Valley

12561

President

Meridian Strategic Services, Inc.

International Association of Emergency Managers

Comprehensive Disaster Management in the United States

As Federal Coordinating Officer with FEMA and a County Emergency Management Director, I have had the opportunity to lead large emergency management organizations in 25 Major Disaster Declarations and hundreds of smaller incidents.

Understanding the complexities of disaster management in the United States is a crucial first step for organizations becoming prepared to meet the challenges of a future emergency. Organizations must understand what role each level of government plays in a disaster, as well as the roles of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and individuals.

By understanding of this complex process, organizations can identify what gaps exist in their current contingency planning, workforce training and other preparations and take proactive steps to enhance their resiliency.

I can help your organization prepare for the unexpected and reduce your risk to a future crisis.

Risk Mitigation Through Organizational Preparedness

As an emergency management professional with over 20 years experience, I have helped many organizations create comprehensive training programs that are designed to enhance individual skill development and overall organizational performance.

As part of the process, I have served in senior leadership positions during the development and conduct of a wide range of events designed to test and measure performance from small scale team drills to large National Level Full Scale Exercises.

I can help organizations develop training and exercise programs that not only prepare leaders and organizations for future disasters but also enhance their daily organizational performance.

Incident Command and Organizational Management

Effective Incident Management is the cornerstone of mitigating organizational risk. The development of the skills required to effectively manage an organization in crisis a takes forethought, dedicated time and practice.

In order to successfully overcome the challenges of a crisis, organizations must implement a well thought out management system that is fosters unity of effort, effective communication and permits the greatest degree of operational flexibility possible.

The Incident Management System (ICS) provides organizations with a modular management system that enables any organization to meet the needs of a dynamic situation. In order to successfully utilize ICS, organizations must undergo pre-event training and testing that measures the effectiveness of the team under realistic circumstances.

I can help both public and private sector organizations implement an incident management system that enhances your overall resiliency and can help to reduce your organizational risk.

Leadership and Crisis Management

Management during a crisis can test even the best and most experienced leaders. During a crisis, leaders throughout the organization may be called upon to rise the challenges of the situation and lead.

It is only through effective training, skill development and testing under realistic conditions will organizations enhance the leadership capabilities of the members of its team. Not only is it important to ensure that senior level team members are ready to manage a crisis, it is crucial that junior and future leaders are also ready to step in and take on more responsibly when the time comes.

The consequences of not being ready for a future disaster can be devastating to an organization. The first step in enhancing your resiliency is in preparing your leaders for their next challenge.
Your investment in time and resources in preparing your team to lead in a disaster will not only prepare your organization for a future crisis, but also enhance daily organizational performance through more effective communication, detailed planning, risk tolerance and enhanced leadership at all levels.

I can help your team get ready to take on its next great challenge.

Developing Organizational Resiliency

Being ready for the next crisis is crucial for organizations because the cost of being unprepared can be devastating. In today’s world, many organizations simply cannot afford any significant interruption of service and capability.

Having an updated Continuity of Operations plan is a good start, but it is not enough. Organizations must continually look for ways to enhance their resiliency through individual skill development, coordination with internal and external stakeholders, and testing of plans and procedures under realistic conditions.

As an Emergency Manager with over 20 years of experience leading organizations through some of the most complex disasters in the United States, I can help you develop and implement a continuity program that will prepare your team for the future.

Seamus is a crisis manager with 20 years of experience in the risk and consequence management field. Seamus has served in key leadership roles in twenty-five Presidentially declared Major Disaster declarations at both the local and federal levels of government. Seamus has led large diverse and multifunctional teams in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York, Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Hurricane Matthew in South Carolina. In addition, Seamus provided leadership for the Orange County Division of Emergency Management during Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Super Storm Sandy.

As the President of Meridian Strategic Services Inc., Seamus leads the Meridian Team in developing close relationships with our clients in order to enhance the client’s ability to limit their exposure to risk and to help them succeed in times of crisis and uncertainty.
Prior to becoming the President of Meridian Strategic Services Inc., Seamus was a Federal Coordinating Officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In this role, he was appointed by the President of the United States to coordinate the delivery of federal resources during disaster response and recovery operations to assist state, territorial, local, and tribal nation governments as well as coordinating direct aid and relief to disaster survivors.

Seamus also served as the Deputy Commissioner for the Orange County NY Department of Emergency Services where he served as the primary emergency manager for a county of over 400,000 residents. In this capacity, Seamus was responsible for coordinating and integrating the Emergency Management activities of 42 municipalities and 109 public safety agencies in the county.
Seamus is a veteran of the United States Army.

Seamus is a Certified Emergency Manager with the International Association of Emergency Managers, a graduate of the Harvard University’s Crisis Leadership Program and a graduate of the National Emergency Management Executive Academy. Seamus received his Masters of Public Administration from Marist College, School of Management and his Bachelor’s Degree from Norwich University, Military College of Vermont.

Seamus is currently the President of Meridian Strategic Services and is an emergency manager with over 20 years of experience in crisis management and risk mitigation.

Most recently, Seamus was a Federal Coordinating Officer with FEMA where he led on the ground disaster response and recovery operations across the Continental United States and the Caribbean. Seamus has served in executive leadership roles in 25 Presidentially Declared Major Disasters including the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, and Hurricane Sandy.

Seamus currently helps senior leaders and organizations across the country to mitigate their risk to both manmade and natural disasters.

Yes

Flexible: Full refund up to 3 day prior to event, except fees (travel and service)