City of Fairfax Earns National Emergency Management Accreditation
Published on December 11, 2025
Pictured : City of Fairfax Fire Department Chief John O'Neal; Capt. Walter English, emergency management coordinator; Marcia Deppen, director of Consequence Management, Maryland Department of Emergency Management; and Mayor Catherine Read.
The City of Fairfax Office of Emergency Management has achieved accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program, the nation's highest and most respected standard for emergency management programs. This accomplishment makes Fairfax the first locality in Virginia to earn EMAP accreditation, underscoring the city's unwavering commitment to public safety, preparedness, and community resilience.
EMAP accreditation is a rigorous, comprehensive process that evaluates an emergency management program's policies, plans, training, operations, and capabilities against 66 national standards. The accreditation team conducts an in-depth review and on-site assessment to verify compliance. Achieving this milestone demonstrates that the Office of Emergency Management meets — and in many cases exceeds — national best practices for managing disasters and supporting the community before, during, and after emergencies.
"This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire emergency management team and the strong partnerships we have across all city departments," Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Capt. Walter English said. "It reinforces that our planning, preparedness, and response efforts are among the best in the nation, and it positions Fairfax as a leader in public safety across Virginia and beyond."
The achievement also highlights the city's broader commitment to excellence. Fairfax is now the first locality in Virginia where all three public safety agencies — police, fire, and emergency management — are nationally accredited. This collective accomplishment reflects the city's focus on professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
City leaders credit the accreditation to years of hard work, collaboration, and innovation. From developing robust emergency operations plans and strengthening training programs, to enhancing community outreach and refining incident management processes, the Office of Emergency Management's efforts have helped elevate preparedness citywide.
As Fairfax continues to grow and evolve, EMAP accreditation ensures that the city remains ready to meet future challenges with a strong, coordinated, and nationally recognized emergency management system.
For more information about the city’s emergency preparedness initiatives, visit fairfaxva.gov/OEM.