Omaha, Nebraska – Douglas County Emergency Management Agency welcomed Patti Motl last October, bringing on an experienced emergency management specialist whose mission is rooted in strengthening local preparedness and protecting the community she now calls home. Motl’s arrival reflects the agency’s continued effort to build resilience and ensure the county is ready to respond effectively to emergencies and disasters.
Motl entered the field through a path shaped by healthcare and disaster response. She began her professional career as a nurse before transitioning into emergency management through volunteer disaster response work. That experience opened the door to a role as an emergency preparedness coordinator at a hospital, where she trained staff, led the emergency management committee, and authored the facility’s emergency operations plan. Her work helped ensure that medical teams could respond efficiently during crises.
“I was interested in supporting emergency preparedness at the local level and helping protect my community,” Motl said.
Extensive Disaster Response and Training Experience
Motl’s career expanded beyond hospital preparedness. She served on National Disaster Medical System teams, deploying across the country to assist with disaster response operations. Her assignments also included support for major national events, including a presidential inauguration and fireworks celebrations on the National Mall.
For the past decade, she has served as an instructor at FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness, working in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security. In that role, she taught disaster response and incident command, helping prepare emergency responders from across the nation to manage complex emergencies.
In her new position with Douglas County, Motl is focused on researching preparedness strategies used in comparable communities while contributing to the agency’s education and training initiatives. She describes the work as both meaningful and personal.
“This work allows me to support a community that has given so much to me,” she said.
Deep Roots and Personal Commitment
Born in Topeka, Kansas and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, Motl spent many summers on her uncle’s ranch in Nebraska’s Sandhills. Those experiences helped shape her appreciation for rural communities and the importance of preparedness in areas that often face unique challenges.
Outside of her professional life, Motl enjoys reading and collecting antique books, particularly those focused on history. She also hopes to visit every Nebraska state park and national battlefield she has not yet seen.
Motl said she looks forward to working alongside colleagues who share a commitment to resilience and disaster readiness.
“I’m excited to work with many like-minded people whose goal is to prepare our community and decrease the effects of disasters, if possible,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of awareness among county employees and residents.
“Emergency management is a vital part of helping the community respond to and recover from disasters,” Motl said.
At home, Motl cares for a 10-year-old Shih Tzu and two older cats. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve Douglas County and said she looks forward to meeting more county employees and community members in the months ahead.
With a background that spans healthcare, disaster response, and national-level training, Motl brings both experience and dedication to her role. Her work is expected to strengthen preparedness efforts and support a safer, more resilient Douglas County.
