Mueller Honored with Excellence in Community Preparedness Award

September 22, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. — Ashley Mueller, assistant extension educator with Nebraska Extension has been honored with the Excellence in Community Preparedness Award from Nebraska Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley. Mueller received the award during a ceremony held on Sept. 18 at the Nebraska State Capitol.

The award honored Mueller’s efforts towards creating a stronger community through preparedness planning and disaster preparation to enhance community readiness and resilience. In her position as disaster education coordinator for Nebraska Extension, Mueller helps Nebraskans prepare for disaster situations.

“We are very proud of the work Ashley has accomplished in community preparedness,” said Chuck Hibberd, dean and director of Nebraska Extension. “Our role in Extension is to make sure Nebraska communities are prepared ahead of a disaster, and to help them recover following a disaster.”

In addition to facilitating preparedness workshops for Nebraska 4-H, earlier this year Mueller coordinated the 2015 Nebraska Disaster Preparedness Summit. She is currently helping to develop local, Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD).

“Community preparedness starts with the individual, and when individuals come together to start a conversation through COAD, the whole community can benefit,” said Mueller. “We’ve seen that when communities are more prepared, they are more resilient in the face of disaster.”

Presented during Nebraska Preparedness Month, the ‘Be Prepared’ awards program is in its eighth year of honoring Nebraskans who volunteer their time and energy to support preparedness in Nebraska communities. The awards are sponsored by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the Nebraska Citizen Corps Program and the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center.