Philly gets new emergency management director

Someone else is now handling Philadelphia’s emergencies.

The city announced yesterday Samantha Phillips will be the new deputy managing director of the Office of Emergency Management. She replaces Liam O’Keefe, who left the post to return to his native New York.

“Because of her proven track record of steering multiple agencies, both public and private, in a coordinated effort during emergencies, I have every confidence that Sam’s role in leading OEM will make Philadelphia a more secure and resilient city,” Nutter said of Phillips yesterday.

Phillips is the chair of FEMA Region III Regional Advisory Council and serves on the executive board of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Regional Task Force. She comes to the position after having served as assistant managing director.

Her job description is to “collaborate with City departments and external organizations to develop comprehensive emergency management plans to mitigate the impact of emergencies and guide the city through recovery efforts.”