Bamberg, South Carolina (March 2019) – On February 20, 2019, Brittany Barnwell and Tiffany Kemmerlin of the Bamberg County Emergency Services Department were presented with certificates in recognition of their successful completion of the SC Certified Emergency Manager Program. Barnwell is the Bamberg County Emergency Services Director and Kemmerlin is the Administrative Assistant in the same department.

The SC Certified Emergency Manager Program is a joint program between the SC Emergency Management Division and the SC Emergency Management Association. The intent of the SC Certified Emergency Manager (SC CEM) certification is to improve South Carolina’s ability to respond to emergencies by ensuring professionals in the field have extensive training and experience. There are multiple criteria that must be met to become a SC CEM; applicants must work in emergency management for at least three years, must complete at least 100 contact hours in the different fields of emergency management, successfully complete 35 classes, and have demonstrated experience in emergency operations centers. Applications for the certification are peer reviewed.

“Bamberg County is proud of Brittany and Tiffany for completing the requirements to earn recognition as SC Certified Emergency Managers. The certification is not easy to earn and demonstrates their dedication to excel in their field,” said Joey Preston, Bamberg County Administrator. “As a result of their efforts, Bamberg County has a well prepared and capable Emergency Management staff.”

Brittany Barnwell is a Bamberg County native and has been the Director of Bamberg County Emergency Management since 2016. She is a graduate of South Carolina State University and is currently enrolled in a master’s degree program at Lander University. Tiffany Kemmerlin is a Bamberg County native and has worked for Bamberg County Emergency Services since 2016. She is a graduate of Bamberg-Ehrhardt High School and is currently studying Business Administration at Orangeburg Technical College.