Introducing, Jeffrey L. Totten, Director
Hancock County Emergency Services & Disaster Agency
I grew up in Warren County Illinois and graduated from Roseville High School. I went to college in Harrisburg Illinois where I took Forestry Classes. I started with the National Park Services where I worked as a Law Enforcement Ranger. I worked at Grand Canyon, Shenandoah and Yosemite National Parks. As a Ranger we did Law Enforcement, Wildland and Structural Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Search and Rescue. I left the Park Services and joined the Mariposa County Sheriff’ Office in Mariposa California. Some of my collateral duties was Emergency Vehicle operations instructor, Search and Rescue Coordinator, Special Response Team Supervisor, and all hazards Incident Management Team (IMT) member.
On the IMT, I served as Incident Commander, Operations Chief, Plans Chief and other positions within the Incident Command System. Our IMT handled multiple emergencies and incidents including Large Scale Searches, Wildland Fires and large weather-related events. I’ve been deployed all over California on large scale events. I was deployed to Paradise, Ca for the Camp Fire to assist in locating the missing persons from the fire. My Special Response Team was deployed to San Fransico, CA for Civil Unrest and Black Lives Matter Demonstrations.
I retired in 2021 and moved back to Illinois. I was hired by Hancock County in December 2023. I live outside of Plymouth with my son Payton and wife Pauline. Pauline works for FEMA; Federal Emergency Management Association and she is stationed in California when she is not deployed to disasters all over the United States. Payton attends Southeastern High School and plans to study Meteorology after graduating. He currently assists ESDA during weather events.
Introducing, Doug Campbell, Deputy Director
Hancock County Emergency Services & Disaster Agency
I am a Hancock County native, graduating from Hamilton High School. I was an EMT on the Hamilton Emergency Ambulance Service back in the mid to late 90’s. Since then my work career took me from telecommunications for 10+ years to Information Technology for another 8 or 9 years. For the past almost 10 years I’ve been the pastor of the Elvaston Community Church, in Elvaston, IL. I also serve on the Carthage Fire Department as a firefighter/engineer.
I have had several roles in ESDA the past few years. I started as the Communications Chief as I am involved in Amateur Radio, as a licensed amateur radio operator at the highest (Extra) level, a volunteer examiner, and an ARRL registered license instructor. Once Gary came on as the Comms Chief I moved to restart the Search & Rescue and Drone teams. I have Search and Rescue training through the Illinois Fire Service Institute as well as Lost Person Behavior training and began raising up a team of trained searchers for our county. I am also an FAA licensed remote pilot. I deeply enjoy outdoor activities which is beneficial to search and rescue. In my free time I like to hike, backpack, camp, repelling and sometimes teach outdoor skills, wilderness survival and first aid classes.
I have recently taken on the Deputy Director position. In my time with ESDA I’ve had specific formal training in emergency management including on the National Incident Command System, Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, The National Incident Management System, The National Response Framework, Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents, and Advanced ICS for Complex Incidents. I am looking forward to continuing to serve the people of Hancock County in this capacity.
Introducing Evan: My name is Evan Davidson and I am the Hancock County IL ESDA Chaplain. I live on a small farm just outside of Carthage with my family, and enjoy anything outdoors. I also really enjoy anything incident command, haz mat, or disaster related. I have been a firefighter for over 14 years. Nine years with Payson Fallcreek FD, and over five years with Carthage Fire. I am also a lieutenant, and chaplain for Carthage Fire, chaplain for HCEMS, and support for law enforcement entities in the county. Mental health is a big thing for me, this is why I enjoy chaplain work. I am CISM certified, CISM stands for Critical Incident Stress Management, a system of programs and interventions/ debriefings that help people manage and recover from significant stress. CISM is used to prevent stress in emergency responders and to help them deal with it if they experience it in their work.
CISM aims to: Provide social support Help people cope with and manage themselves Help people return to normal working Identify if people need to be referred to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
CISM involves selecting and implementing the most appropriate crisis intervention tactics for a given situation. My partner Daisy who is my therapy dog in training, helps me to help other first responders in times of need after a tramatic event. Studies show that when animals are present during a CISM debriefing, people open up more. Please reach out to me if you need anything. I would be happy to help, or at least get you the right resources.
Introducing, Gary Rehahn, Communications-Volunteer
Hancock County Emergency Services & Disaster Agency
I am a Hancock County native, graduating from Warsaw High School and Western Illinois University. Retired after a 45 year career with the Federal Government in social and public service and management which began on the south-side of Chicago and then back to west-central Illinois through many different positions and responsibilities. As a manager of a small federal installation, I was trained in safety and emergency preparedness.
I am the Communications person for Hancock County ESDA charged with management of radios and communications. I am active in Ham Radio and the Big Bend Amateur Radio Club of Hancock County and hold an Amateur Extra License with the FCC. Also, I am a NWS trained weather spotter.
Hancock Co. ESDA currently sponsors the amateur repeater KC9LMF located on the Carthage City water tower. ESDA also has many radios; mobile, handheld, and high-frequency rigs that equip the ESDA EOC and mobile command and communication vehicles. I certainly am not the know-all person when it comes to radios, but I can assist in finding the answers and solutions.
