ROCKLAND – Knox County Commissioners on Wednesday, June 29, in a special commission meeting held via Zoom, voted 2-1 to appoint Candice Richards as the county’s new Emergency Management Director. Richards served as the administrative programs coordinator at Knox County EMA since 2017, and she replaces Ray Sisk who retired after serving as the EMA director since 2008.  

“It was a long process of interviews,” she stated. “I just didn’t know until it was announced that they had picked me.” 

Wendy Galvin, Knox County administrative assistant said 48 individuals applied for the position.  

Richards began working for Knox County in 2007 as assistant to the county’s then administrator Bill Post. Andrew Hart was hired to the position in 2008 and Richards continued on as assistant to the administrator.  

While serving as assistant to Hart, Richards earned a master’s degree in emergency management.  

She applied for and was accepted as the administrative programs coordinator in EMA in December of 2017. 

Richards explained the role of an emergency management agency. 

“We advocate for the towns to the state and the feds,” she said. “When there is a disaster declaration we mediate between the towns and the state and the feds. If they need resources, we ask for them. We have equipment they can barrow. For instance, traffic control. We have the equipment that can make that easier.” 

EMA also provides ongoing education.  

“All public safety departments, as well as us, are required to take training, especially for NIMS, which is the National Incident Management System,” Richards said. “We do all the training here for the public officials and that makes them eligible for certain federal funds.” 

Richards said the pandemic slowed the training down and now that things are opening back up a little, she wants to strengthen the training programs, once again.  

“One of the things I care a lot about is public education,” she said. “Self-reliance and being able to take care of yourself. It’s the adage of you are the help until help arrives. If we can teach people to take care of themselves and others, it makes the whole process of an incident go a lot smoother, and less people suffer.” 

During the pandemic,  the EMA enabled all the food pantries a way to communicate and coordinate with each other to ensure there was enough food to distribute, and that the four drive-thrus to distribute food functioned.

“There were a lot of people who were really happy to be there,” she said. “It did my heart good to see it work so well and so much food get distributed.”  

Richards said that with the summer population growing, her department is concerned with mass gathering events.  

“Obviously we see incidents of mass shootings on the news,” she said. “And we have several large events coming up and the planners of these events are concerned. We work with these planners, and not just about that type of incident happening, but everything from a lost child to someone plowing through a crowd in a car. We have scenarios we talk through. Realistic things that could happen.” 

Richards sited the upcoming Union Fair, the Lobster Festival and events at the Owls Head Transportation Museum as events that benefit from those sessions.  

Severe weather could also put the EMA into action.  The EMA has a severe weather watchers' group.  

Richards said new Homeland Security grants focus not only on terrorism, but community preparedness, as well.  

“That has always been a passion of mine,” she said. “It’s very important that people be able to take care of themselves and each other.” 

Richards grew up in Rockport, and doesn't envision living anywhere but close to the water.

She said the commissioners have a good handle on what the EMA does.  

“We have their support,” she said, “and I’m very grateful for that because it really does make all the difference.” 

Richards sees her career dedicated to the area.

“I’m 46,” she said. “I figure I have two decades to do a lot of good for Knox County.” 

Reach Chris Wolf at news@penbaypilot.com