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Prince Edward County has a new emergency management coordinator. Over the July 4 holiday, county staff made the announcement, as Trey Pyle has been promoted, effective July 1.

Pyle’s new position will “focus on the prevention, preparation and mitigation of threats, and response and recovery planning for major incidents and disasters,” county officials said in the statement. He has served as the county’s Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator/Community Development Specialist since March of 2020. Pyle will also continue as the county’s Hazardous Material Response Officer, a position he has held since August of 2022.

“Trey’s strong background in fire and emergency medical service, as well as his leadership experience and his knowledge of Prince Edward County give him a well-informed perspective for emergency planning and response,” said Prince Edward Administrator Doug Stanley. “He has grown into this job over the last four years and our community is fortunate to have someone with his dedication to assume this important position.”

Stanley also noted that Sarah Puckett, Assistant County Administrator, who was assigned the Emergency Management Coordinator responsibilities for the past 10 years, will step back from her active emergency management role. She will continue to supervise the county’s public information, general services, solid waste, animal control, cannery and emergency management departments and functions.”

More background on Trey Pyle

Over the past four years, Pyle has participated fully in county responses to substantial events and incidents, which have included the COVID pandemic, the February 2021 Ice Storm, and multiple, successful search and rescue missions in support of the Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office.

He has worked closely with the Prince Edward Area Firefighters Association to obtain grant funding to upgrade and replace old and outdated equipment, to include: self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); thermal imaging cameras; gas monitors and ventilation fans. He has managed the development of the county-wide public safety radio system and will continue to oversee the implementation and construction phases of the project. He also developed and maintains the county’s drone program.

Pyle has completed a substantial courseload of hazardous material and emergency management training through FEMA and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, to include: NIMS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800; the FEMA Professional Development Series; FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy certification; HazMat Operations and Hazmat Materials/WMD Technician, and VDEM Search and Rescue training. Additionally, Pyle holds Advanced EMT certification and has completed significant firefighter training through the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, to include: Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Instructor I, Vehicle Extrication and Swift Water Rescue, to list a few.

The coordinator manages the development of the county’s Emergency Operations Plan and the county’s Emergency Operations Center, when activated. The position also serves as the point of contact with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and for Homeland Security initiatives.

“I am honored and humbled to be named Emergency Management Coordinator for Prince Edward County,” Pyle said. “Perhaps it was fate that my first day on the job with Prince Edward County was March 16, 2020, the day the county issued its declaration of local emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic. I have learned a lot over the last four years and look forward to working with all of the county’s partners, first responders and public safety agencies, and our residents and businesses to maintain the high level of emergency preparedness needed to protect our community.”

Pyle has served as Chief of Meherrin Volunteer Fire and Rescue since 2018 and has been a member of the department since 2002. Under his leadership, the department has seen a lot of professional growth within, including hosting multiple Firefighter I, II and HazMat courses for surrounding departments and the development of the department’s first Water Rescue Team.

A Prince Edward County native, Trey and his wife, Sally live in Meherrin with their two daughters.