The person who's worked in emergency services in Catawba County for nearly two decades and overseen the department for seven of those years is leaving to take a position with the state's emergency management department.
David Weldon's last day as Catawba County emergency services director is Jan. 6.
On Jan. 11, he'll assume his new position as area coordinator for the state's Division of Emergency Management, covering the eight eastern counties of Beaufort, Camden, Pasquotank, Hyde, Martin, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington.
"I'll work with local municipalities for emergency management," Weldon said. "I'll help them with grants and resources from the state."
He said the emergency situations he'll be dealing with are likely to be flooding and hurricanes.
Weldon also serves as a member of the state's emergency response team, and will be deployed around the state during disaster situations.
North Carolina only has three branch offices in the state for emergency services. The eastern office is in Kinston. Because he is covering eight counties, he'll have to do a fair amount of traveling, he said.
Weldon said he will likely live in Pitt County, near Greenville. His wife went to school at East Carolina University, and they have friends there. It is also a close drive to New Bern, where he grew up and has family.
Catawba County's emergency medical services manager, Bryan Blanton, will serve as interim emergency services director until someone is hired to fill Weldon's position.
Lee Worsley, the assistant manager for Catawba County, said Weldon has done a great job for Catawba County, and he's sorry to see him go.
"He helped create an EMS system that is admired across the state as a model. David helped build that foundation and Bryan Blanton has carried it on," Worsley said. "He has always been on the cutting edge of implementing new programs and has been very aggressive in seeking federal grant dollars so the county could provide the highest level of service with the least financial impact to our citizens in terms of local tax dollars."
Weldon said one of the things he's proudest of accomplishing is completely restructuring the EMS system and being one of the first counties to attain the state's "model EMS system" designation.
"We now have very effective hazard materials (HAZMAT) and urban search and rescue capabilities," Weldon said. "Catawba County has one of the best, if not the best, medical first responder programs in North Carolina. Also, our animal services division has been effectively expanded and is now more focused on pet adoption and includes a well trained staff that we've been able to expand in recent years to include an animal care coordinator who concentrates on the health of animals brought into our shelter."
Weldon said he was also pleased the county was able to serve veterans in Catawba County with the Veterans Service Office, which falls under the administration of emergency services.
Weldon said he's grateful to have dedicated much of his career to Catawba County. However, he's ready to try a new career.
"Catawba County is a great place to work," he said, but "I'm looking forward to change. It will be a new adventure."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement