Emergency Management

Robert Wike Graham

Deputy Chief/Director Robert Graham was appointed to his current role in 2026 and serves as the Deputy Chief of Business Administration for the Charlotte Fire Department, as well as the Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO). In this capacity, he provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the region’s emergency management program, coordinating efforts across internal divisions and with local, state, and federal partners.

Prior to his appointment, Chief Graham served as Division Chief and Deputy Director for Emergency Management, where he oversaw daily operations and planning initiatives for CMEMO. He also served as the primary liaison to North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). His responsibilities included oversight of Emergency Support Function (ESF) #4 – Firefighting and ESF #5 – Emergency Management, and he serves as the manager of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Incident Management Team (IMT).

Chief Graham began his career with the Charlotte Fire Department in 1996. He was promoted to Engineer in 2003, Captain in 2004, Battalion Chief in 2015, Division Chief in 2022, and Deputy Chief in 2026. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of operational and leadership roles, including extensive assignments in specialty rescue and hazardous materials operations.

A recognized leader in the emergency management and fire service community, Chief Graham is a former President of the North Carolina Search and Rescue Advisory Council, a current Peer Team Leader for the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), and a former Accreditation Manager for the Charlotte Fire Department. He holds numerous technical certifications and serves as both a fire and rescue instructor and a National Incident Management System (NIMS) instructor for the State of North Carolina and FEMA.

Chief Graham has led and supported responses to a wide range of complex incidents, including severe weather events, cyber incidents, technical hazards, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also deployed nationally in support of seven major hurricane responses, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the 2018 eruption of Mount Kilauea. In addition to his operational leadership, he serves as an adjunct professor for several universities.

He holds an Associate of Science in Emergency Preparedness Technology from Caldwell Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Fire Science Administration from the University of New Haven, and a Master of Professional Studies in Safety and Security Leadership from George Washington University. He also earned a Graduate Certificate in Community Preparedness and Disaster Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Chief Graham is a graduate of FEMA’s National Emergency Management Advanced and Executive Academies and the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. He holds the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence and is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers.

Charles Horne

Division Chief and Deputy Director Charles Horne oversee daily emergency management operations, planning, preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management (CMEMO). He serves as a liaison with local, state, and federal partners and supports coordination across public safety, government, private sector, and community stakeholders. Chief Horne is responsible for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #5 – Emergency Management and serves as a member of the Charlotte Fire Department Incident Management Team (IMT).

Chief Horne joined the Charlotte Fire Department in 2000 and has served in a variety of operational and administrative assignments throughout his career. He has held leadership positions in Strategic Planning, Health & Safety, Special Operations, and Emergency Management. Prior to his current role, he served as Battalion Chief of Strategic Planning, leading initiatives involving geographic information systems (GIS), accreditation support, organizational performance dashboards, fleet and resource analysis, staffing studies, and emergency response planning. He also served as a North Carolina Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Leader and remains active in regional and statewide emergency management and special operations initiatives.

Throughout his career, Chief Horne has responded to and led emergency operations involving severe weather, technical rescue, hazardous materials incidents, large, planned events, and complex emergency management activations. He has deployed statewide in support of numerous disaster response operations, including Hurricanes Isabel, Charley, Frances, Matthew, Florence, and Helene.

Chief Horne holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management from Western Carolina University and an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Central Piedmont Community College. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program and holds numerous certifications in incident management, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, urban search and rescue, emergency management, and fire service leadership.

Corbin Hyland

Corbin Hyland serves as the Branch Manager for Homeland Security and Critical Infrastructure with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management. In this role, he leads regional homeland security initiatives, oversees fixed nuclear facility and radiological emergency preparedness programs, manages critical federal grant programs, and coordinates preparedness efforts that strengthen the safety and resilience of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community. He also serves as the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Manager during activations and leads the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Incident Management Team.

Prior to his current position, Corbin served as Branch Manager for Planning and as an Emergency Management Planner for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management, where he led planning efforts for healthcare preparedness, active violence response, continuity of operations, cybersecurity, and major special events. Throughout his career, he has played key roles in planning for and responding to numerous large-scale incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Ian, Winter Storm Izzy, the Colonial Pipeline cyber incident, major sporting events, national political events, and regional full-scale exercises.

Corbin holds a Master of Science in Security Studies from East Carolina University and a Bachelor of Science in Emergency and Disaster Management from Western Carolina University. He is both an IAEM Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and a North Carolina Executive Emergency Manager (NCEM) and is a graduate of FEMA's National Emergency Management Advanced Academy.

Corbin is committed to building strong partnerships across local, state, federal, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations to enhance regional preparedness, strengthen critical infrastructure protection, and ensure Charlotte-Mecklenburg remains ready to respond to emerging threats and disasters.

Matt Brown

Matthew Brown is the Logistics Planner for CMEMO, responsible for Emergency Support Function (ESF) #7—Logistics Management and Support. He coordinates CMEMO assets across Mecklenburg County and surrounding jurisdictions, manages specialized equipment for the Charlotte Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Hazardous Materials teams, and oversees deployment and maintenance of the Mobile Operations Center (MOC) and Mobile Command Post (MCP).

Dan Glaser-Reich

Daniel serves as the Branch Manager of Planning for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management. He leads the development and execution of planning programs that support Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and six partner municipalities, collectively serving a population of more than 1.1 million residents. In this role, he supports the Division Chief (Deputy Director) in administering a comprehensive, all‑hazards emergency management program spanning mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.

Daniel supervises and mentors a team of three emergency management coordinators, guiding core planning functions, training initiatives, and interagency coordination efforts. He oversees the development, maintenance, and implementation of key emergency management plans. He regularly collaborates with local, state, and federal partners on emergency management policy, regulatory compliance, and planning best practices.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor’s from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management, he spent time working in regional healthcare preparedness, disaster hospital logistics, and as a firefighter paramedic for a county outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Paige Grande

Paige Grande is the Public Information Officer and Community Preparedness Coordinator at CMEMO. She oversees the Alerts and Warning Program, including IPAWS and CharMeck Alerts, ensuring timely and effective communication with residents during emergencies. Paige also leads the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, working to strengthen community resilience through outreach and education. She holds a Master’s in Public Service Administration from Texas A&M’s Bush School of Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Communication from George Washington University.

Ashley Riggins

Ashley Riggins is an Emergency Management Coordinator at CMEMO, where she oversees technology systems and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functionality. She brings over 16 years of experience in emergency services and fire safety, with a background spanning roles at Charlotte Fire Prevention, Waxhaw Fire Department, Union County, and Atrium Health Emergency Management. Ashley is currently completing her Master’s in Security Studies with a concentration in Homeland Security Policy at East Carolina University.

Jon Ronda

Jon Ronda serves as an Emergency Management Coordinator at CMEMO, where he leads the agency’s Training, Exercise, and Homeland Security initiatives. He is responsible for developing and delivering training programs, coordinating multi-agency exercises, and supporting regional homeland security planning efforts. Jon holds a Bachelor’s degree from Florida State University with a Certificate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Alexa Santa Cruz

Alexa Santa Cruz is an Emergency Management Coordinator at CMEMO, where she oversees Emergency Operations Center (EOC) readiness and operational coordination. She plays a key role in maintaining EOC capabilities and supporting response planning. Alexa joined CMEMO in September 2025 after completing a year-long internship with the agency. She is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Emergency Management at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

JD Densmore

JD Densmore is an Emergency Management Coordinator at CMEMO, specializing in disaster response planning and Mass Care coordination. He leads the county's Emergency Sheltering program and co-manages the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). JD is an Army veteran and brings several years of private sector emergency management and supply chain experience. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and Personal and Team Resilience Trainer, and holds a Master's Certificate in Emergency Management from the University of North Carolina - Charlotte and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Emergency Management has been woven into the very fabric of our nation long before it gained an official title. Our office was initially chartered in 1953 as the Charlotte Office of Civil Defense, tasked with preparing the community for potential wartime threats during the Cold War era. Over the decades, as the nature of threats evolved, so did the scope of our mission. In 1983, through an interlocal agreement between the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, we became the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO), reflecting a broader mandate to safeguard our community against various hazards.

The transformation of Emergency Management as we know it today is a response to pivotal local, state, and federal disasters over the past 25 years. Two key events, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, have significantly shaped the field—the tragic events of 9/11 exposed vulnerabilities in national security and emergency response frameworks. In the aftermath, comprehensive legislation and the formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were enacted to bolster the nation's ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks and other emergencies. Similarly, Hurricane Katrina's devastation underscored the need for robust emergency management capabilities. The storm’s impact led to significant reforms, which enhanced the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) authority and capacity to support state and local governments during large-scale disasters. Together, these events and the subsequent legislative actions have been instrumental in advancing the protection of life and property within the United States and its territories, reinforcing our commitment to an all-hazards approach that integrates diverse strategies to address a broad spectrum of emergencies, from natural disasters to human-caused incidents.

At CMEMO, we continue to evolve, learning from past experiences and leveraging technological advancements and best practices to enhance our capabilities. Our dedication to safeguarding our community is unwavering, and we remain vigilant in our mission to protect the citizens of Charlotte-Mecklenburg through comprehensive planning, response, and recovery efforts.

The North Carolina Emergency Management Act, N.C. G. S. 166A-7(d)(2) authorizes and requires each county and incorporated municipality in the state to direct and coordinate the development of emergency management plans and programs by the policies and standards set by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) and the Division of Emergency Management (NCEM).

Our office operates primarily under this guidance, but our office also maintains legal authority under local ordinances and federal authorities, which is situation dependent. Included are a few key federal authorities that guide Emergency Management initiatives nationwide:

• Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8

Since November 2017, all licensed care facilities that accept Medicare and/or Medicaid must comply with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Preparedness Rule.

The mission of this rule is to enable federal, state, tribal, regional, and local governmental agencies and healthcare providers to respond to every emergency in a timely, collaborative, organized, and effective manner, which includes developing the following:

1. emergency plan(s) based on an “all hazards” approach, using the facility risk assessment.
2. policies and procedures based on the emergency plan and facility risk assessments.
3. a communications plan that prepares for all hazards and complies with federal and state law.
4. a training and testing program, including initial training and annual training and the facilitation of drills and exercises (two are required per year).

Each facility(s) must file emergency plans with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) annually.

To submit your facility’s plan, complete the form with your information. Your plan will be included in our secure database and shared with our team and applicable response partners.

Licensed Care Facility Emergency Plan Form

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) has created a registration program for individuals who are homebound or have specific access or functional needs requiring evacuation assistance. This includes those who use oxygen, respirators, or ventilators, require wheelchair support, need animal assistance, or have visual, hearing, speech, behavioral, mental, or substance abuse needs.

Registration is voluntary and will help prioritize assistance in emergencies based on the situation and available resources. By registering, first responders will be aware of your specific needs during a disaster in your area.

To register, complete the provided fillable form. Your information will be stored securely and shared with our response partners. Upon successful submission, you will receive a confirmation message.

Special Needs Registry Form