Region V: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI

The Region V office is located in downtown Chicago

About Us

Photo of the Region 5 Building in Chicago, Illinois

FEMA Region V serves the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as the 34 federally recognized tribes located in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Our regional office provides advice, training and funding to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain and improve our capabilities for disaster preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation.

Region V employs over 160 full-time employees and can draw on a cadre of more than 500 disaster assistance employees to provide support.

In April 2010, Andrew Velasquez III was appointed by President Obama to serve as the regional administrator for FEMA Region V. In this position, he coordinates FEMA’s regional disaster response and recovery, mitigation and preparedness activities throughout the region’s six states.

Office of the Regional Administrator

Andrew Velasquez III, Regional Administrator
Janet M. Odeshoo, Deputy Regional Administrator
Maureen Cunningham, Regional Counsel
Thomas Mefferd, Emergency Analyst
Mark Peterson, External Affairs Officer
John Walsh, Law Enforcement Liaison

Divisions

Mission Support Division: James Duncan, Director

The Mission Support Division is responsible for ensuring there is continuity in the leadership of the agency's critical business operations, function and purpose.

Grants Management Division: Iris Andrade, Director

The Grants Management Division is responsible for managing FEMA grants as it relates to Public Laws, Executive Orders, FEMA legislation and other directives related to the award and administration of grants, cooperative agreements, and stakeholder technical assistance to ensure grant compliance and completion of mission critical performance goals and objectives.

Mitigation Division: Christine Stack, Director

The Mitigation Division is responsible for creating safer communities through programs that reduce the loss of lives and properties such as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

National Preparedness Division: Michael Chesney, Director

The National Preparedness Division is responsible for the coordination and development of the capabilities and tools necessary to prepare for all hazards with all levels of government.

Recovery Division: Paul Ricciuti, Director

The Recovery Division is responsible for providing federal assistance to individuals and households, as well as eligible public facilities in counties declared a major disaster by the President.

Response Division: Paul Preusse, Director

The Response Division is responsible for coordinating and implementing the federal response to major disasters, including planning, operations and logistics.