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18TH Annual EMAT Leadership Symposium Agenda 

EMAT AWARDS PROGRAM 2026

CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND OUR PROFESSION

The purpose of the EMAT Annual Awards Program is to recognize the achievements and hard work of the individuals, organizations, and jurisdictions that have made exceptional efforts to further the field of emergency management and to ensure a whole community approach to preventing, preparing for, mitigating against, responding to and recovering from disasters. EMAT Awards are an opportunity to recognize your colleagues in the emergency management field, to tell the story of your organization, and to help create a record of best practices.

Nomination Information

-The EMAT Awards Program accepts award nominations until January 12, 2026.  Go to the nomination button at the end of this document and follow the instructions to make your nomination.

-Award nominations can only be submitted by an  EMAT member in good standing (e.g., has paid annual dues, etc,); although some award nominations can be for individuals and organizations that are not EMAT members.

Self-nominations are NOT allowed. An EMAT member can make a nomination for an individual, project, or program within their organization/agency.  However, the submitter cannot be a nominee for that award.

Selection

-Unless otherwise noted, selection of award recipients is at the discretion of the Awards Committee.

The Committee reserves the right to move a nomination to a different award category.

If an award nomination is incomplete or unclear, the Committee will NOT consider the nomination.

Award Presentation

Award presentations will take place at a ceremony coinciding with the 2026 EMAT Symposium.

Nomination Guidance

EMAT Awards are intended to recognize the best of emergency management in Texas. To uphold the highest standards, please adhere to the criteria by which your nomination will be considered.

Successful nominations will reflect the following:

-Who Can Nominate - Award nominations can only be submitted by an EMAT member in good standing.

Timeliness - All nominations, except for Lifetime Achievement, must be for accomplishments during the stated year (January - December 2025).

Follow the Award Criteria - Use the criteria as a guide when writing your nomination.  In some cases, the criteria are very specific.

Make Your Case - Details rule!  Awards Committee members make decisions based solely on the information provided.  If the program or the achievements nominated are not adequately described, they will not be considered.

Support Your Case - If possible, provide supporting documentation, pictures, media clips, maps, or other items that can help the Committee visualize the nomination; and

Individuals, agencies, tribal nations,and/or organizations are only eligible to receive one award per category per year, the exceptions being the President's Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.

-Judging Criteria

During the judging process, the EMAT Awards Committee will evaluate nominations based on the following information.

-Award selections will be based on the information presented in the award nomination.

-Nominations need to be clear, descriptive, and provide specific examples that clearly demonstrate that the person/project/program is worthy of the selected award.

-Eligibility requirements:

-Is the nomination made by an EMAT Member?

-Does the nomination reflect activities that occurred within the past calendar year?

-Is the nomination a self-nomination?

-Is the nomination submitted for the correct award (based on the award criteria)?

-Note:  The Awards Committee may move nominations from one award category to another during the judging process.

TO REVIEW THE LIST OF AWARDS AND DESCRIPTIONS, SUBMIT A NOMINATION, CLICK HERE