EMA director returns to work

Pinpointing cellular 911 calls will be a top priority, the director says.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Walter Duzzny, director of Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency since 1982, will be returning to work next Tuesday after a 21/2-month absence.
Duzzny said he was hospitalized five days for a condition known as optic neuropathy. An artery in his right eye ruptured, resulting in a semipermanent vision loss in that eye, Duzzny explained. However, he said he has experienced no vision loss in his left eye.
"I'm excited. Obviously, there are a lot of challenges ahead for Mahoning County in terms of preparedness," Duzzny said of his return to work.
Among his priorities are continuing to train local emergency responders to meet national homeland security standards and giving the county's emergency dispatchers the capability in the near future to locate electronically the origin of 911 calls made from cellular telephones, he said.
"Because of a lot of people's support -- a lot of agencies and departments -- we have a far better program than we had 20 years ago," Duzzny said. He also credited his "very competent and well-trained staff" and thanked well-wishers for their telephone calls, cards and prayers during his recovery.
Clark Jones, operations director for the county EMA, who has been acting agency director in Duzzny's absence, said, "We welcome him back with open arms. His years of leadership and management speak volumes."