Kansas Region 5 EMS Council

05/25/2026

05/21/2026

Day two of the Fitch & Associates Beyond the Streets leadership course is underway in Junction City, and it has been incredible to see EMS professionals from across Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois coming together to learn, collaborate, and grow as leaders in our profession. The conversations, shared experiences, and commitment to serving others have made this an outstanding course so far.

A huge thank you as well to Paradox Coffee & Bistro for generously donating lunch and beverages for today’s class. Your support of first responders and public safety professionals is greatly appreciated and helped make the day even better for everyone attending.

We also want to sincerely thank C.L. Hoover Opera House for hosting this course and providing such a wonderful venue for training, networking, and professional development.

05/20/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who attended today’s event sponsored by Region V EMS. Events like these are a great reminder of the strength of regional collaboration, continuing education, and the shared commitment we all have to improving patient care across Northeast Kansas.

We appreciate all of the attendees, presenters, partners, and supporters who helped make this event a success. Your dedication to EMS and public safety does not go unnoticed. Thank you for investing in your profession and in the communities we serve every day.

EMS leaders from all over the Midwest are here for at C.L. Hoover Opera House for Day 1 of "Beyond the Street" Essential Skills for Supervisors

05/18/2026

We would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Paradox Coffee & Bistro for their incredible generosity and support of our Beyond the Streets Leadership Course.

Their donation of food and beverages helped make this important training experience even more welcoming and enjoyable for all those in attendance. Community partnerships like this truly make a difference, and we are incredibly grateful for local businesses that continue to support first responders, leadership development, and professional growth within emergency services.

Beyond the Streets focuses on strengthening leadership, communication, and organizational culture within public safety, and having the support of community partners such as Paradox Coffee & Bistro only adds to the success of the program.

Thank you again for your kindness, hospitality, and continued support of EMS and public safety professionals throughout our region. We encourage everyone to support local businesses that give back to their communities in such meaningful ways!

05/17/2026

This EMS Week, Region V Northeast Kansas EMS Council proudly celebrates the EMS professionals, dispatchers, educators, leaders, volunteers, and community partners who work together every day to improve outcomes across Northeast Kansas.

From our largest communities to our smallest rural towns, EMS is built on teamwork, compassion, dedication, and service. Across all 24 counties of Region V, providers answer the call day and night — caring for neighbors, supporting one another, and strengthening the communities we serve.

“Improving Outcomes. Together.” is more than a theme — it reflects the collaboration between agencies, healthcare systems, first responders, public safety partners, and citizens throughout our region.

To every EMS Professional:
Thank you for your commitment, sacrifice, and service to the people of Northeast Kansas.

One Mission. 26 Counties. Countless Lives.

04/22/2026

We are proud to share a note of appreciation received from Miami County EMS following the recent tornado response that impacted Hillsdale and surrounding areas.

This incident is a powerful reminder of the strength of coordinated response across Kansas. Through the activation of the Kansas Major Emergency Response Group (MERGe), resources from multiple counties came together quickly to support impacted communities. In total, 19 ambulances, EMS supervisors, and additional support assets were mobilized to assist Franklin, Miami, and Linn counties during a complex and rapidly evolving situation.

This is exactly what regional collaboration looks like—agencies supporting agencies, stepping in when it matters most, and ensuring that no community stands alone during times of crisis.

We want to recognize all responding personnel for their professionalism, adaptability, and commitment to service. Your efforts made a difference.

Thank you to Miami County EMS for the kind words and for their leadership during this incident. We are proud to stand alongside partners across the region and state as part of a system that continues to demonstrate resilience, coordination, and excellence.

Stronger together. Always ready.

04/17/2026

Prices go up soon! Have you signed up yet? Earlybird deadline is April 20, so register now! And Region 5 agencies - make sure to use the discount code in your email to register for only $98 that will be reimbursed after attending!
Region V NE Kansas EMS will be hosting a Beyond the Streets Workshop May 20-21, 2026 in Junction City, KS. This workshop will be presented by Fitch & Associates.
Location:
CL Hoover Opera House, 135 W. 7th St., Junction City, KS 66441
Cost:
$358 (early-bird)
$458 (after April 20)
$98 for personnel of Region 5 agencies (Discount code emailed out)
Complete workshop details available at: https://fitchassoc.com/beyond-the-street-workshop/
Registration link: https://cvent.me/89n7Yy

04/14/2026

All MERGe-coordinated assets have safely returned to their home jurisdictions early this morning following overnight response operations. We are grateful for the professionalism, rapid deployment, and commitment demonstrated by all agencies involved.

MERGe EMS Advisors from Region V played a key role in coordinating EMS mutual aid resources throughout the incident, ensuring appropriate coverage and resource allocation. Additionally, a MERGe EMS Advisor from Region VI provided direct support in Linn County, further strengthening regional coordination efforts.

This was a truly widespread event, with multiple confirmed tornadoes impacting several counties, requiring a significant, coordinated multi-agency response across the region.

Update from the Miami County Sheriff’s Office:

• Search and Rescue teams are currently conducting secondary searches of affected properties.

• The Miami County Codes Department is actively assessing structural damage.

• At this time, no cleanup crews are being requested or allowed in the impacted areas until these operations are complete.

• Donations of food and drinks for responders can be dropped off at:
Miami County EMS Station 3
25377 Old KC Road

Additional details will be released as they become available.

We continue to stand with our partner agencies and the communities impacted by this event. The strength of regional mutual aid and coordination remains evident in responses like this.

*This radar image captures a rare and significant moment from last night’s severe weather event, showing two simultaneous tornado-producing storms occurring in neighboring counties.*

04/14/2026

On the evening of Monday, April 13, at approximately 8:39 PM, the Kansas Major Emergency Response Group (MERGe) was requested by Miami County following a tornado that directly impacted the Hillsdale area.

Because of the strength and coordination of regional mutual aid, a total of 19 ambulances were made available to support this incident. These resources included:
• 2 ambulances from Anderson County EMS
• 5 ambulances from Johnson County MED-ACT
• 6 ambulances from Miami County EMS
• 1 ambulance from Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department
• 1 ambulance from Jefferson County EMS
• 2 ambulances from Pottawatomie County EMS
• 1 ambulance from Jackson County EMS
• 1 ambulance from Techs Inc.

In addition to ambulance resources, EMS operations were further supported by a transport-capable side-by-side and multiple supervisor vehicles, enhancing access and command capabilities in a complex and dynamic incident environment.

MERGe personnel from Junction City Fire Department, Pottawatomie County EMS, Fort Scott Fire Department, and Miami County EMS responded directly to the scene. At the same time, MERGe members from Riley County EMS, Johnson County Med-Act, and Emporia Fire Department provided critical remote monitoring and coordination support, ensuring a sustained and organized response.

Reflecting on the incident, MERGe Team Commander Kerry McCue shared praise for the operational coordination, stating that, “from my vantage point on the other side of the radio, I was truly impressed by how effectively you coordinated and managed the EMS resources at this incident.”

Thanks to the seamless coordination of regional partners, all EMS mutual aid resources were able to be safely cleared shortly after 1:00 AM.

This incident is a powerful reminder of why regional mutual aid is so vital. No single agency can manage large-scale, rapidly evolving disasters alone. Mutual aid ensures that when one community is impacted, others stand ready to respond—bringing personnel, equipment, and expertise to stabilize the situation, protect lives, and support recovery efforts. It is this shared commitment to service that strengthens our entire region.

To every agency, provider, and community that answered the call—thank you. Your willingness to leave your own jurisdictions, your families, and your routines to assist a neighboring community speaks volumes about the character of our profession. Your dedication, professionalism, and teamwork made a meaningful difference during a critical time.

We are proud to stand alongside each of you.

01/27/2026

Join our partners at the Kansas HCC for the 2026 Virtual Kansas Healthcare Coalition Preparedness Summit as part of the Brown Bag Tuesdays Lecture Series!

📅 Every Tuesday at Noon
🗓 February 3 – March 24, 2026
💻 Virtual

✅ EMS CEUs will be provided for applicable sessions
🎓 8 total presentations
💵 One registration fee: $25

This series features timely, engaging discussions focused on healthcare preparedness and response — perfect for EMS providers looking to learn, connect, and earn continuing education from anywhere.

🔗 Registration & agenda details coming soon at:
👉 https://www.kshcc.com/registration.html

In partnership with HCCP of KS and Global Medical Response.