Region 1

Assistant Chief: Erica McDowell

Erica McDowell serves as Assistant Chief for Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Region 1, where she is responsible for leading state emergency management activities in the 61 county area stretching from the Panhandle to the Big Country.

Prior to serving as a Recovery and Mitigation Regional Section Chief since 2021, Erica McDowell was a TDEM District Coordinator for 4 years and spent 14 years working as the Oldham County Emergency Management Coordinator.

Assistant Chief McDowell has extensive experience in all phases of emergency management, and has served on several local, regional, and statewide committees that support emergency management initiatives.

In 2022, she represented the State of Texas responding to Hurricane Ian in Florida, assisting with donations and volunteer management, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

She has a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership from Western Governor’s University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Wayland Baptist University.

McDowell is stationed in Lubbock.

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