The Emergency Management of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is vital to our continued existence on our homelands. We train the community on disaster preparedness on a variety of circumstances.
Building Resilience Through Leadership: Progress and Achievements
2021 Photo Credit: Dan Hammock, The Daily World. Published in "Rising Above: Shoalwater Bay Tribe Tsunami Evacuation Tower Construction Underway," May 18, 2021. Source Lee Shipman (right) and Ken Ufkin Groundbreaking Ceremony, May 17, 2021.
Resilience is the cornerstone of effective emergency management and the target toward which the five mission areas of protection, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery are aimed. Every preparedness task is evaluated through the lens of resilience: How does this action strengthen the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe against the inevitable challenges of disaster? This question becomes even more significant when balancing resilience with the constraints of shrinking budgets and economic downturns.
The Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe has achieved several milestones in recent years, building on the foundation laid by Tribal Elder and former Emergency Manager, Lee Shipman. One of the most significant achievements was the construction of the first free standing tsunami evacuation tower in the United States, a project that brought both, national and international attention to the Tribe’s proactive disaster mitigation efforts. Ken Ufkin, Emergency Manager and a 30-year veteran in public safety and emergency management trained at the American Military University, picked up where Lee Shipman left off, guiding this project to completion while simultaneously navigating the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health measures, communication, and access to essential supplies were seamlessly implemented during this period. The tsunami tower now serves as both a lifeline for the community and a symbol of innovation and collaboration.
Another critical project was the construction of a warehouse on high ground, filled within a year with essential supplies such as food, toiletries, and first aid materials. The focus on food, water, and shelter as foundational elements of resilience led to the transition of food stores to a 30-year shelf life using in-house freeze-drying efforts. This ongoing initiative incorporates other departments and community volunteers, making it a critical effort toward disaster resilience and food sovereignty amid the challenging landscape of the world we live in. The cost savings achieved by this approach have been extraordinary compared to purchasing commercially preserved products.
Training has been a cornerstone of the Tribe’s resilience strategy. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) model was reimagined to leverage the existing talent pool within the Tribe’s maintenance department, housing, natural resources, and police. These teams already posses the skills and life experiences required for effective response, making this approach both fiscally responsible and operationally effective. Routine training programs, including fire extinguisher training, CPR, first aid, and AED certification, further reinforce readiness across the organization. The Tribe has also distributed three-day preparedness kits to the community and workforce, ensuring individuals are equipped to handle immediate needs post-disaster. Events such as the Yellow Brick Road (YBR) and participation in the Great ShakeOut have raised awareness and reinforced the importance of preparedness.
Advancements in communications have been transformative. The Tribe has developed a multi-layered system that ensures reliability and redundancy in even the most challenging circumstances. The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Mobile Command Center (MCC) are equipped with satellite communication capabilities, high-frequency SHARES (HF-SHARES), HAM radio systems, and failover safeguards. These systems operate on battery backups and support VOIP and packet messaging, providing resilience against power outages and ensuring connectivity when it matters most.
Each of these milestones represents a deliberate progression from vision to action. By engaging with experts from diverse disciplines and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe has documented and shared its achievements, spreading best practices within the broader emergency management community. These efforts underscore the Tribe’s commitment to resilience, honoring the past and securing the future for generations to come.
About
Shoalwater Bay Emergency Manager Bio
Ken Ufkin is a dedicated emergency management professional, security and safety leader with over three decades of experience in law enforcement, fire service, and emergency preparedness, trained at the American Military University, with a B.A. in Disaster and Emergency Management. His career reflects a deep commitment to building resilient communities, community engagement, and fostering inclusive safety and security solutions aimed at preparedness and resilience. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, Ken served 18 years in law enforcement, 11 of those years, dual certified as a professional firefighter in South Florida, developing extensive expertise in hazardous materials spill response and disaster management. Currently, as the Emergency Manager for the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, he coordinates preparedness efforts and has played a key role in constructing the nation’s first free-standing vertical evacuation tsunami tower. Guided by servant leadership, cultural responsiveness, and a strong family ethic, Ken strives to build trust and collaboration across communities while advancing innovative, sustainable preparedness initiatives aimed at resilience and constant improvement.
