We’re excited to announce that the Utah Mapping Emergency Technical Team (UMETT) is back in action! For those who have participated with us before, we are resuming our quarterly meetings.
For those who may be new, UMETT is a partnership of government and private geospatial professionals with a mission of providing cross-jurisdictional professional mapping services and data in support of decision-making during emergency response and mitigation in Utah. After a brief hiatus, we’re thrilled to re-launch with a new board and renewed energy.
Our Vision
1 – Standardized Data Framework: Compile and provide a consistent set of data sources and GIS products to aid decision-making during emergencies and recovery efforts.
2 – Deployable GIS Professionals: Maintain and train a roster of GIS professionals who can be quickly deployed in response to incidents (currently operating on a volunteer/unpaid basis).
3 – Resource for Emergency Managers: Serving as a go-to resource for emergency managers to explore GIS capabilities and request assistance.
In addition to the response-oriented goals, the board will host quarterly meetings open to anyone interested. These gatherings will update you on our progress, celebrate our achievements, and feature guest speakers who will share insights on emergency management best practices in Utah.
If you are interested in attending these meetings, or in potentially being deployed as a GIS resource in an incident, please fill out this form. You can learn more about UMETT at this website but stay tuned because there will be an updated website available soon!
Meet the new UMETT board members:
Julia Surkis – Chair
GIS Program Manager
Utah Division of Emergency Management
I have been working in GIS for the Utah Division of Emergency Management for the past four years, following internships with the Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining and the City of Hurricane. My undergraduate degree was in Environmental and Sustainability Studies, where I found GIS through a quantitative requirement. I was immediately hooked by its unique combination of technical quantitative skills, problem solving and creative design.
While working at the state, I completed a master’s in GIS from the University of Utah, and was promoted to GIS Program Manager at the beginning of this year. As the State of Utah’s Division of Emergency Management GIS Program Manager (wow that’s a mouthful!), I believe it’s crucial for my team to be actively involved with UMETT — not only to provide support and resources, but also so that we can learn from the locals and private sector about what best practices are for boots-on-the-ground. I am excited to be able to serve and learn from this community of GIS professionals and emergency management enthusiasts!
Outside of work, you’ll be most likely to find me riding my mountain bike (I plan on leading another ride at UGIC this year!), cooking with lots and lots of vegetables, summiting 14ers with my husband or playing board games with friends (my current favorite is Century).
Melissa Blue – Vice Chair
GIS Specialist
City of Cottonwood Heights, UT
I first discovered GIS in 2001 during my undergraduate studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, followed later by a graduate certificate in GIS at Utah State University. Currently, as the sole GIS person at Cottonwood Heights I have been involved in many aspects of emergency management that GIS touches, but also am acutely aware of the limitations of only having a single person to work in an emergency. I look forward to serving the GIS Community in Utah.
Brian Busch – Technology Coordinator
GIS Analyst
City of Millcreek, UT
Brian Busch is the GIS Analyst for the City of Millcreek, UT, where he has served for the past five years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography with honors from Northeastern State University and is a proud member of Gamma Theta Upsilon, the international geography honor society. Brian’s academic journey began at the University of Oklahoma in Petroleum Engineering before pivoting to his true passion for geography and GIS. Since joining Millcreek in 2019, Brian has become the primary GIS analyst for a city of over 63,000 residents. He plays a pivotal role in deploying enterprise Esri environments across various city departments, enhancing their geospatial capabilities and supporting critical decision-making processes. As a licensed Part 107 UAS Pilot, Brian also leads the city’s efforts in creating topographic and engineering surveys.
Outside of his professional commitments, Brian enjoys snowboarding, off-roading his Toyota, and exploring the Intermountain West with his wife, Samantha. His passion for adventure and the outdoors reflects his commitment to understanding and leveraging geographic information to serve his community better.
Savannah Mailloux – Training Coordinator
GIS Specialist
Salt Lake County Emergency Management
Unified Fire Authority
Savannah Mailloux is a GIS Specialist for the Unified Fire and Salt Lake County Emergency Management. She has worked with a variety of local organizations to assist in their GIS needs, whether it’s paper maps, web applications, technical documentation, aerial imagery, or data analysis. She is excited to provide information on training opportunities to GIS professionals in the State of Utah with UMETT
Braden Norris – Outreach Liaison
Private Sector Liaison
Utah Division of Emergency Management
As the Outreach Liaison for UMETT, my goal is to connect the GIS and Emergency Management communities in Utah. I’ll work to promote UMETT, build relationships with emergency managers, and ensure our GIS tools and resources are ready to support disaster response efforts. My focus is on making it easier for our team to assist during emergencies by streamlining processes and integrating with state emergency resources.
The goals of UMETT are:
Discuss and share best practices and lessons learned from using GIS during a disaster response
Define essential datasets and other geospatial tools and products to be used to support emergency or disaster response
Establish systems and procedures, adhering to best practices, to effectively share data and maps
Collaborate with emergency managers and other responders to promote understanding of their information needs and educate them on the capabilities GIS professionals can provide
Identify appropriate training for GIS professionals to obtain skills to better support an emergency
Coordinate and share critical geographic information during an emergency or disaster response according to established procedures
Utilize training and procedures to establish a volunteer group that can assist other jurisdictions in Utah during an emergency
If you would like to join the Utah Mapping Emergency Technical Team or have questions/needs:
[email protected] or 801-980-1239
UMETT Response Team Standard Operating Guidelines (last updated May 2017).