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Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby has announced several key appointments aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and veterans support services throughout the county.

Cathy Umrichin has been named director of Elizabethton/Carter County Emergency Management, with Luke Gragg appointed as deputy director. In a separate appointment, Shaun Smith has been selected to lead the Carter County Veterans Service Office.

“Cathy, Luke and Shaun bring an extensive amount of experience and dedication to their respective roles, strengthening vital services in the county,” Woodby said. “I have full confidence in their ability to serve our community with excellence.”

Emergency Management Appointments

Umrichin brings more than 30 years of experience in emergency response and coordination. Her career has included leading multi-agency responses, most notably coordinating operations with the NYPD and Port Authority during the 9/11 attacks. She has also managed office staff, budgets and public outreach, and currently chairs the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

In her new role, Umrichin will oversee the county’s emergency response procedures and collaborate with first responders to prepare for and address natural disasters and other crises.

Gragg, the new deputy director, began his emergency service career in 1996 as a volunteer firefighter before joining Washington County–Johnson City EMS, where he rose to the rank of rescue lieutenant. He holds numerous certifications in technical rescue, including swiftwater, dive and vehicle extrication, along with several instructor-level credentials and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency certifications.

Veterans Service Appointment

Smith, a retired U.S. Navy chief petty officer, brings a 20-year military career to his new role as veterans service officer. A former radioman and information systems technician, he served aboard the USS Kearsarge, USS Freedom and USS Essex, with five deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.

He was also deployed twice with a joint task force to Afghanistan and Bahrain in support of the Global War on Terror, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Since relocating to Elizabethton in 2021 with his wife and three children, Smith has been active in the local community. In his new role, he will assist Carter County veterans and their families in accessing federal and state benefits earned through military service.