Leelanau County’s Emergency Management/911 Department has brought on an unpaid intern to build a fullscale disaster exercise simulating a tornado striking a local school.
Dana Boomer, who is pursuing a master’s degree in emergency management from Arkansas State University, will work under the county’s Emergency Management Director to plan and help coordinate the exercise as part of her degree requirements.
Boomer’s work will follow Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines. Her duties include drafting a master scenario events list; securing a Leelanau County school willing to host the drill; recruiting volunteers and other participants; and coordinating with first responders on their roles.
She’ll also help evaluate how the exercise goes, providing guides for evaluators and observers, then assisting with an after-action report and improvement plan once it’s over.
Per the agreement, Boomer will not run or control the exercise itself; on the day of the drill, her role will be limited to that of a participant, alongside other agency personnel.
The internship is unpaid. County documents specify Boomer is not a county employee, will not be compensated, and is not guaranteed future employment as a result of the position. Either the county or Boomer can end the internship at any time, without cause.
