Keystone Emergency Management Association - KEMA

Keystone Emergency Management Association - KEMA Keystone Emergency Management Association - KEMA is the professional association for emergency management professionals in PA.

We host a yearly conference and have other opportunities for supporting emergency management professionals.

🚨 Early Bird Registration is OPEN for KEMA 2026! 🚨Join the Keystone Emergency Management Association for the 9th Annual ...
05/19/2026

🚨 Early Bird Registration is OPEN for KEMA 2026! 🚨

Join the Keystone Emergency Management Association for the 9th Annual PA Emergency Preparedness & Homeland Security Conference this September 27–29 at the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA.

⏱️ Lock in your Early Bird discount! Register by June 8, 2026, to save $25 and secure your spot for just $75.

👉 Register Now: https://kema.regfox.com/kemacon226-participant-registration

04/21/2026

📢EXTENDED: Call for Speakers Deadline Now May 6!

Due to an overwhelming number of requests for additional time and our commitment to featuring the "best of the best" in the industry, we are officially extending the submission deadline for the 9th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Conference.

We are looking for dynamic subject matter experts to lead 60-minute breakout sessions that align with this year’s theme: "Strengthening Connections, Assessing the Threats of Tomorrow." Help us shape the future of safety and resilience by sharing your expertise in:
🤖 AI in Emergency Preparedness
🛡️ Cybersecurity
🤝 Volunteer Engagement
💡 Practical solutions for first responders and healthcare disaster professionals

Don’t miss your opportunity to take the stage this September and present before 300+ of your peers from across the Commonwealth.

🗓️ New Submission Deadline: May 6, 2026
🔗 Submit your proposal here: www.KEMAConference.com/call-for-speakers

03/30/2026

The countdown is officially ON! 🕒

We are now LESS THAN ONE MONTH AWAY from the submission deadline for the 9th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Conference!

Don’t miss your chance to take the stage this September! You only have until April 20th to get your proposals in.

This year’s theme, "Strengthening Connections, Assessing the Threats of Tomorrow," is all about looking ahead. We are looking for dynamic speakers to lead 60-minute breakout sessions on the cutting-edge topics defining our field, including:
🤖 AI in Emergency Preparedness
🛡️ Cybersecurity
🤝 Volunteer Engagement
💡 Practical solutions for first responders and healthcare disaster professionals

Join over 300 of your peers across the Commonwealth to help shape the future of safety and resilience. Whether you have a case study, a new strategy, or an innovative technology to share, we want to hear from you!

🔗 Submit your proposal NOW at: www.KEMAConference.com/call-for-speakers

Let’s make the best one yet. Show us what you've got! 🛡️✨

The KEMA Spring Informational Meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM via Microsoft Teams. Serving as a mid-y...
03/06/2026

The KEMA Spring Informational Meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2026, at 6:30 PM via Microsoft Teams. Serving as a mid-year touchpoint, the session is designed to facilitate the efficient flow of important information across the Commonwealth. The agenda features updates from PEMA, the PA Office of Homeland Security, and KEMA liaisons and committee chairpersons, along with a briefing on utilizing the Member Center for professional development. Members are encouraged to check their email for the meeting link and formal agenda.

01/30/2026

⚠️ IMPORTANT ADVISORY: OFFICIAL CONFERENCE HOUSING ⚠️

We have received reports of unauthorized third-party companies contacting KEMA members and partners claiming to sell "the last remaining hotel rooms" for the 9th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Conference.

PLEASE BE ADVISED:
- These solicitations are NOT affiliated with KEMA.
- Official hotel blocks and discounted rates have already been secured by the Association, but the information has NOT been released yet.
- The official booking links will be released in May 2026 when registration opens.

Protect yourself: Do not provide your credit card information or book via unsolicited emails. KEMA will never call or email you to ask for your credit card to book a hotel room over the phone.

Official updates will always come directly from our website and official KEMA email channels.

01/21/2026

The following was sent to the membership via our membership management platform earlier today:

Dear KEMA Members,

I am writing to provide several important updates regarding our association, including a resolution for our ongoing membership renewal challenges and upcoming professional development opportunities.

Membership Dues and Website Status

We understand the frustration many of you have experienced with our online payment system. Secretary Marree and I have been working diligently with AMO and our hosting company for over a month to resolve these technical issues. To ensure this is settled promptly, the KEMA Executive Board has authorized a transition to a new service provider if the current system is not fully operational by January 31st.

In the meantime, if you wish to renew your dues immediately, please use one of the following manual methods:
- Check Payments: Please download and mail the form located at the bottom of the KEMA Join Page at https://kema-pa.com/join-kema/.
- Credit Card Payments: Secretary Marree can process these manually. Please email her at [email protected] to schedule a brief call.
- Security Note: For your protection, please do not send credit card information via email.

Get Involved: KEMA Committees

Our committees held their annual kick-off meetings last week, and there is still room for you to contribute. If you are interested in helping shape the future of our organization, please visit our Committees & Liaisons page at https://kema-pa.com/committees-liaisons/ to contact the relevant Chairperson.

Partner Event: IAEM Region 3 Mental Health Symposium

We are pleased to share a virtual learning opportunity hosted by our partners at IAEM Region 3:

- Date: January 30, 2026
- Duration: 3-hour Virtual Symposium (Microsoft Teams)
- This will feature Knox Walk, Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness for UPMC Health, who will discuss the response to the York, PA, campus shooting and how mental health support was integrated into the recovery and Heather Brannon, Emergency Manager for the Northern Sparrow Planning District (Alaska), will present her research on incorporating Mental Health First Aid into the Incident Command System.
- Register at: 70a33e6e-8a78-4a00-b8a2-ea936a65c2d0@cb664994-d190-46db-9588-9096808d45de/registration" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/70a33e6e-8a78-4a00-b8a2-ea936a65c2d0@cb664994-d190-46db-9588-9096808d45de/registration

Save the Date: KEMA Spring Informational Meeting

The KEMA Spring Informational Meeting will return this year! We have tentatively scheduled this virtual event for the evening of April 8th. Please stay tuned for further details and registration information.

Thank you for your continued patience and your dedication to the emergency management profession in Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,
Bob Gerlach, President

01/14/2026

🚀 Exhibitor & Sponsor Opportunities are NOW OPEN for !

Looking to get your technology or services in front of PA's top emergency management leaders? Join us for the 9th Annual Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security Conference.

📅 Sept 27–29, 2026 📍 Blair County Convention Center 🔗 Register here: https://kemaconference.com/exhibitors-sponsors/

Why join us?
- Targeted Audience: Network with 300+ attendees, including all 67 County EMA coordinators, Task Force leads, 9-1-1 offices, and healthcare/utility professionals.
- Maximum Exposure: One-on-one interaction during training sessions, meals, and social events.
- The Theme: “Strengthening Connections, Addressing the Threats of Tomorrow.”

Showcase your innovative solutions to the decision-makers keeping Pennsylvania safe.

⏳ Registration closes August 14, 2026.

🚀 KEMA is hitting the ground running!Our 2026 Committee Chairpersons officially kicked off the year this week to set goa...
01/13/2026

🚀 KEMA is hitting the ground running!

Our 2026 Committee Chairpersons officially kicked off the year this week to set goals and expectations. This team is fully committed to advancing our profession while deepening the value of our Association for every member.

Want to be part of the mission? The "real work" happens in our committees, and the doors are officially open! If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s not too late to help shape the future of emergency management in Pennsylvania.

🔗 View our committees and contact a Chairperson to get involved today: https://kema-pa.com/committees-liaisons/

From disaster response to daily patrols, our law enforcement partners are essential to the emergency management mission....
01/09/2026

From disaster response to daily patrols, our law enforcement partners are essential to the emergency management mission. We thank you for your service and your commitment to keeping Pennsylvania safe.

KEMA is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity on behalf of our partners at PAVOAD.As emergency managers, we know that...
01/06/2026

KEMA is pleased to share an upcoming opportunity on behalf of our partners at PAVOAD.

As emergency managers, we know that supporting our veterans and their families is a vital part of community resilience. This month, the statewide coordination call features a special guest from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

- Guest: Samantha Cossman, PA VETconnect
- Topic: Supporting PA veterans and connecting local VOADs / COADs to available services.
- When: Friday, January 9, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET

Join via Zoom:
- Meeting ID: 814 1847 4616
- Passcode: 095125

We encourage all KEMA members and local VOAD / COAD leadership to attend and learn how to better integrate veteran services into your local disaster response and recovery networks.

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West Chester, PA

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 8am - 4pm

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