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Sarah Moe Melching Earns Michigan Professional Emergency Manager Certification
PRESQUE ISLE, MI -- Sarah Moe Melching, a Presque Isle Township resident and current Emergency Management Director for Montmorency County, has earned her Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) designation through the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD).
The Professional Emergency Manager designation is a professional credential recognizing individuals who have demonstrated extensive knowledge, training, and experience in emergency management. The program is designed to strengthen Michigan’s emergency management capabilities by ensuring professionals possess the competencies necessary to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and emergencies.
Earning the PEM designation requires a significant commitment to professional education and development. According to the Michigan State Police’s 2026 Emergency Management Course Catalog, the program encompasses 169 hours of training, including approximately 21 required courses and training components, followed by a comprehensive 100-question examination requiring a minimum passing score of 75 percent.
The curriculum includes coursework through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Michigan-specific emergency management programs. Training covers incident command, emergency operations center management, disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation, emergency planning, public information, leadership, decision-making, volunteer management, and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).
Candidates must also demonstrate a minimum of two years of professional experience in emergency management or a related field before qualifying to take the certification examination.
Melching brings more than seven years of county-level emergency management experience to the designation.
From 2019 through 2025, she served as the part-time Emergency Services Coordinator for Presque Isle County, working with local governments, first responders, public safety agencies, and community partners to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities.
In August 2025, Melching accepted the position of full-time Emergency Management Director for Montmorency County, where she oversees countywide emergency preparedness, disaster
planning, hazard mitigation, emergency communications, training and exercises, and coordination with local, regional, state, and federal partners.
Her work has included advancing emergency notification capabilities, coordinating disaster response and recovery operations, updating emergency management plans, pursuing grant funding, and strengthening partnerships among public safety agencies and community organizations.
“Emergency management is about much more than responding when disaster strikes. It is about building relationships, identifying vulnerabilities, planning ahead, and making sure our communities have the resources and knowledge needed when emergencies occur,” Melching said. “Earning this designation represents years of education, training, and practical experience. I am proud to have achieved this professional milestone and look forward to continuing to serve the communities of Northeast Michigan.”
The PEM designation also requires ongoing professional development to maintain the credential, ensuring certified emergency managers remain engaged in training, exercises, emergency management activities, and continuing education.
Melching holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Spring Arbor University and a bachelor’s degree in Business and Healthcare Administration from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She also holds the Certified Healthcare Emergency Coordinator (CHEC) credential and is an FAA Part 107 Certified Remote Pilot.
Her professional background includes more than 25 years of leadership and administrative experience spanning healthcare, nonprofit organizations, and public service.
As a longtime Northeast Michigan resident, Melching remains committed to strengthening regional preparedness, promoting collaboration among emergency management professionals, and helping communities become more resilient in the face of emergencies.