New Canaan Appoints New Emergency Management Director

NEW CANAAN, CT — On Tuesday, the town's Board of Selectmen appointed Russell Kimes III to be the town's full-time emergency management director, a new position created to oversee the town's emergency management programs and response.

According to a news release, Kimes has served as part-time emergency management director since September 2020.

"Today, New Canaan took the important step of reinforcing our commitment to keeping our town safe against all perils," First Selectman Kevin Moynihan said in a news release. "I am very pleased that Russ Kimes has agreed to devote his career to strengthening our emergency services including volunteer fire, EMS and CERT."

Kimes is a third-generation lifetime resident of New Canaan and has been a volunteer with the New Canaan Fire Company #1 for 24 years, serving as the assistant chief of the department for a decade.

Kimes holds numerous national firefighting and incident management certifications, according to the town. He is also a certified emergency medical technician and has years of experience working in the New Canaan Emergency Operations Center, including during hurricanes Sandy and Irene.