Yolo's Emergency Service Manager is Headed to Oklahoma in Response to Tornado

By Beth Gabor
Yolo County Manager of Public Affairs

Early this morning, Chief Rick Martinez, interim emergency service manager for the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services departed for Oklahoma City as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the deadly tornado that hit Moore Oklahoma yesterday.  

Martinez, former Fire Chief of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, has been serving as the Interim Emergency Services Manager for the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services since May of 2012.  

This activation is especially poignant as it was 18 years ago that Martinez lead the Sacramento-based Urban Search and Rescue Team to the Oklahoma City bombing. 

“Chief Martinez has been a great asset to us in Yolo County this past year,” said Yolo County Administrator Patrick Blacklock.  “Our thoughts are with the people of Moore, Oklahoma.  We know Chief Martinez will be a tremendous resource to them as well in their time of need.” 

Chief Martinez had been scheduled to be recognized by the Yolo County Board of Supervisors today for his service to Yolo County.  That recognition will be rescheduled upon his return.