Kerr County CERT earns TDEM's 2026 Spirit of Service Award
The Kerr County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has been awarded the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s 2026 Spirit of Service Award.
The award, which recognizes those who provide exceptional volunteer service and community support, especially while advancing emergency management, was presented during TDEM’s Texas Emergency Management Awards luncheon on May 28 in the Fort Worth Convention Center.
CERT is a squad comprised of trained volunteers who remain at-the-ready and often are called out to the scene to support uniformed agencies in the aftermath of a disaster – whether it is manmade or natural. It is not uncommon for the CERT squad to be relied upon to set up first aid, perform triage functions, gather recon to help responders, assist with coordinating other volunteers, assist with evacuations, etc.
During the July 4, 2025, flooding disaster, Kerr County CERT provided a stellar response and continued that quality of service for months during the flood’s aftermath and into the recovery phase.
The TDEM Spirit of Service Award is a much sought-after honor. There is only one individual, team or agency chosen annually to receive it.
“I’m very proud of our Kerr County CERT, and I’m looking forward to working with them more in the future,” said Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Shorey Harmon, who was hired at the end of April to replace a retired William B. “Dub” Thomas.
The Spirit of Service Award honors volunteer efforts that are driven by heart – in remarkable situations where their goodwill is transformed into action and their inspiration becomes meaningful service to our community during its time of need.
Former Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator William B. “Dub” Thomas (center), who led Kerr County CERT for 11 years before his retirement earlier this year, holds the 2026 Spirit of Service Award recently presented during TDEM’s Texas Emergency Management conference in Fort Worth. Joining him are (clockwise): Gina Lehman Stewart, her brother John Lehman, new Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator Shorey Harmon and John’s wife, Della Lehman. The Kerr County CERT group was co-founded by Stewart and her late brother, Stephen Carl Lehman. As a CERT coordinator, Stephen Lehman led his team through more than 700 volunteer hours of service at the EOC during the weeks following the flood, before he died in November 2025. –Photo courtesy Lisa Walter/Kerr County Public Relations
The 2026 Texas Emergency Management Awards event culminated a week of training sessions, educational workshops, partner engagement and networking opportunities.
"The awards luncheon gives us the opportunity to recognize the individuals, teams and partners whose dedication, leadership and service continue to strengthen emergency management across Texas,” said Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. “Their commitment to protecting communities and taking care of Texans represents the very best of our profession and sets an example for all.”
Kerr County was also represented in another section of the awards presentation. Dr. Stephen Harper, representing Kerr County, was a twin award recipient alongside Dr. Sharon Malone of Grayson County of the Dr. Chuck Bauer Texas Emergency Management Medical Professional of the Year Award.
That award recognizes medical professionals and their contributions to emergency management through incident response, disaster planning, healthcare readiness or instructional preparedness.
Dr. Harper, who serves as the medical director for multiple Texas emergency response agencies including the Kerrville Fire Department, deployed directly into the flood disaster zones as an active, on-scene EMS physician. He spearheaded the medical triage operations for evacuees. He also coordinated medical instructions across a massive network of responding entities. He spent the ensuing months managing ongoing medical oversight, supporting exhausted first responders and coordinating follow-up health services for impacted patients. He was also recognized by the National Association of EMS Physicians with the 2026 EMS Physician Meritorious Service Award.
Kerr County CERT continually looks to build its roster. To recruit those interested, open houses and mandatory training weekends are held in the spring and again in the fall.
For more information about becoming a member of CERT, visit https://www.co.kerr.tx.us/sheriff/cert/apps.html for downloadable application forms or call Harmon at 830-739-9590 or email him at shorey.harmon@kerrcountytx.gov.