Brownell worked through fire, storms, oil spill
It was a tearful goodbye for Pamela Brownell Tuesday morning, as she retired from Franklin County Emergency Management after 17 years, the last decade as its director.
“Start enjoying your life,” said Commissioner Cheryl Sanders. “Know in your heart when you go to bed, you made the best decisions you could. We’re only as good as the people we have around us
“You’re leaving us in good hands,” she said, referring to Jennifer Daniels, Brownell’s successor. “Franklin County is a family, and you never have let me down.”
During her tenure, Brownell sponsored programs in Franklin County that include Build a Bucket, a chance to distribute free emergency supplies to residents, and Alert Franklin, an emergency notification system.
Brownell “created programs for the citizens of Franklin County such as medical assistance during evacuations, the protection of private property by controlling re-entry into the county following a disaster, a rapid means of keeping the community informed about disasters, a program for transporting citizens in need of shelter before a disaster, and volunteer assistance programs during disasters,” reads the proclamation from the county.
Brownell led the county’s response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the 2018 Eastpoint Lime Rock Wildfire, and Hurricanes Irma in 2017 and Michael in 2018..
“Brownell has equipped the EOC for future disasters, bringing the tools we need, from trailers to shovels to lighted road signs. She has also generously supported other agencies in the county by lending scarce equipment,” reads the proclamation.
A tearful Brownell thanked the county, particularly Sanders and Commissioner Noah Lockely, the two longest-serving members, for giving her the honor of the job, and for being supportive through the years.
