Columbia County’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA)’s Director, Andy Leanza, will officially step down from the position of EMA Director effective December 22, 2019 due to a lengthy medical condition.

Andy Leanza served as the EMA Director for approximately 2 ½ years where he led the department in a Vigilant Guard Exercise; helped assess and update all Hazard Mitigation Policies and Procedures; assisted with the implementation of a new disaster recovery technology and tracking system; participated in Operation Convergent Response in Perry, Georgia with the Mobile Operations Center; and effectively managed the day to day operations of the department. While he will no longer be serving the citizens of Columbia County as the EMA Director, Andy will continue to serve the department and the citizens as the Operations Officer for the county’s Emergency Management Agency.

As the EMA Operations Officer, Andy will serve as the primary coordinator for all EMA volunteer programs to include CERT, VOAD, and the Columbia County Registered Volunteer Program; will be responsible for radios and the programs related to communication; assist in disseminating information and emergency plans to school organizations and civic groups; assist the EMA Director with training and exercise program elements; and work with public safety agencies in Grovetown and Harlem and oversee all contracts/agreements with each city.

County Management has named Suzie Hughes as the Interim EMA Director while the county goes through the process of searching, interviewing, and hiring a new EMA Director. Suzie has served in Columbia County EMA for 18 ½ years and is a Georgia Advanced Certified Emergency Manager.

The county is extremely grateful for Andy Leanza’s leadership, vision, and dedication to the department and citizens of Columbia County during his time as EMA Director. In addition, County Management is very excited about the future of the Emergency Management Agency with three very strong employees who are ready and willing to work alongside a new EMA Director.