Two members of the Douglas County emergency management team were recognized recently for their outstanding service.

The Kansas Emergency Management Association named Teri Smith, director of Douglas County Emergency Management, the Emergency Management Professional of the Year and Sheila Meggison, Douglas County emergency management planner, the New Emergency Management Professional of the Year.

The awards were announced last week in Topeka at the group’s annual conference. Emergency management professionals from across the state nominate and select the recipients.

Smith said it is a special distinction to be honored by a group of other professionals in her field and the award reflects the quality of the staff and community partners who collaborate in emergency planning in Douglas County.

“I’m really proud of everybody that’s on the emergency management team here in Douglas County and I think it speaks highly for the county that we have such a good organization,” she said.

Douglas County Emergency Planning also received national recognition this summer for its community planning efforts and a regional award for planning, prevention and risk education.