NEWPORT – Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers has appointed Samantha Buckley as the new county’s emergency manager.
Buckley has been an assistant in the emergency management department for four years.
She replaces Virginia “Jenny” Demaris, who had been the county’s emergency manager since 2011. Demaris resigned Oct. 4, one week after being placed on administrative leave.
In a news release Thursday announcing Buckley’s appointment, the sheriff’s office said the selection came after “an extensive search and competitive selection process.”
“Ms. Buckley demonstrates a strong working knowledge in the field of emergency management, is experienced in the vulnerabilities impacting Lincoln County and the proper response protocols to efficiently manage disasters when they occur,” Landers said in a statement. “One of Ms. Buckley’s strongest attributes is her communication skills and ability to build effective partnerships with cooperating agencies and our community …”
Before joining the county, Buckley worked as an emergency preparedness coordinator in Coos County and as a regional emergency coordinator. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon.
The county’s emergency management department operates under the sheriff’s office with two managers and an administrative assistant and a yearly budget of $360,000. The department is directly responsible for three volunteer groups and its primary role is to oversee emergency planning, including working with dozens of public, private and volunteer organizations, and other county and state agencies.
