White Pine County welcomes new Emergency Manager

White Pine County has welcomed Mathias Rieske as its new Emergency Manager, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the role.
Rieske’s journey to this position is rooted in years of public service and a commitment to preparedness. A former police officer in Arizona, Rieske later moved to Utah, where he served as a sheriff’s deputy. While working in law enforcement, he pursued higher education in emergency management—initially as a backup plan. This combination of field experience and academic training has equipped him with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of emergency management.

In his new role, Rieske likens himself to a “band manager” of the county’s emergency services. While first responders such as EMS, firefighters, and law enforcement handle the immediate work, Rieske’s responsibility is to coordinate efforts, ensure proper equipment and training are available, and serve as a crucial liaison between key stakeholders, including the fire chief, sheriff, and White Pine County Officials.

One of Rieske’s immediate challenges is addressing the long vacancy in this position. This gap has left the county playing catch-up on critical tasks, such as ensuring compliance with state requirements for grants and emergency response funding. Rieske faces what he calls an “Easter egg hunt” to locate and organize the necessary documentation, but he remains optimistic about overcoming these hurdles.

“The goal is to get White Pine County fully compliant and prepared,” Rieske shared, noting that state and federal grant funding is often contingent on proper planning and record-keeping. If federal resources become unavailable, Rieske emphasizes the importance of collaboration between his office and local leaders to ensure the county can still meet its needs.

In true White Pine fashion, Rieske’s vision for emergency management extends beyond traditional disaster scenarios. He anticipates focusing less on what an urban emergency might look like and more on logistical challenges, such as ensuring the timely delivery of trucks, food, and supplies to essential areas like the WPC in the event of an emergency. Part of this vision includes empowering the community through training. Rieske aims to develop a network of highly skilled civilian volunteers who can support emergency personnel during crises. These volunteers will receive specialized training in various aspects of emergency response, from first aid to logistics management. He sees this as a way to relieve pressure on professionals tackling more complex situations.

One innovative idea Rieske is exploring is leveraging local organizations, such as local businesses, churches, and nonprofits, to sponsor Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). These teams, made up of trained volunteers, would be ready to assist professional responders during emergencies, providing immediate assistance to victims and organizing spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. ‘Even if the numbers are small, having more people trained in preparedness would be a huge benefit to the county,’ he explained. Businesses and community groups are also encouraged to participate in these training efforts.

Rieske is not just open to hearing from residents, he actively encourages it. He welcomes input on how the county can better support individual and collective preparedness. “This is a team effort,” he said. “The more we work together, the stronger our community will be in the face of any emergency.”