Are you ready in the face of a disaster? What should you have on hand? In episode 28 Tonya talks with Max Dunlap, Amarillo’s Deputy Director for Emergency Management. He's the Yellow City' go-to professional for information regarding personal preparedness (i.e., what we should do, have and know), as well as management and response in the face of an emergency.

Max hails from the small mountain town of Westcliffe, Colorado. While growing up, he split his time between his family’s land and a nearby, large-scale commercial horse ranch; he praises his ranching hometown for instilling in him the true meaning of public service. Since he was a teenager, he knew that he wanted a life in service, especially after feeling the effects of working as a volunteer youth firefighter. Continuing his commitment to service, Max enlisted in the military and later earned his Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

He came to the city in 2019 as the entry-level Emergency Management Planner, but he quickly rose to the Deputy Director position in 2020 and then became Director in December 2022. Max brings almost two decades of experience in crisis leadership, disaster response, civic communication, public safety, and compliance to his position. He believes that strong communities are built by engaged individuals, and emergency preparedness works the same way: take care of yourself so that you are in a position to help take care of others.

Driven to help foster multi-agency cohesion and bridge gaps through knowledge, Max has dedicated his time at Emergency Management to informing as many residents as possible. When he's off the clock, Max enjoys working in his garden, tinkering on projects, and -- most of all -- spending time with his wife Caitlan and their son, Samuel.