The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustainment and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. The EMPG program is essential for the building and sustainment of critical capabilities for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation across the country.
The purpose of the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program is to provide Federal funds to states to assist state, local, territorial, and tribal governments in preparing for all hazards. The EMPG Program supports a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency preparedness system by building and sustaining the core capabilities contained in the Goal.
In Texas, the Texas Division of Emergency Management is responsible for coordinating state and federal resources to assist local government in response and relief activities in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Contact:
Stephen Cottle, Unit Chief
Phone: (512) 375-0678
Email: stephen.cottle@tdem.texas.gov
Bert Nitzke is Section Chief in the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Training Division, where he plays a key role in developing and delivering emergency management training across the state. With more than a decade of service within The Texas A&M University System, Bert has held various leadership and instructional roles spanning emergency management, curriculum development, marketing, and disaster response.
Bert brings over 20 years of frontline experience in Disaster and Emergency Services, having served in Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement, Firefighting, and Emergency Management. He is a retired Fire Chief from a combination Fire and EMS department, where he led critical response operations and personnel.
He is credentialed as a Type 3 Operations Section Chief with the Texas All-Hazards Incident Management Team.
Carman Apple is the Field Training Section Chief in the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Training Division. She has been with TDEM since 2012, serving first as a District Coordinator for the Beaumont District and then as a Regional Section Chief over Preparedness and Response in the Southeast and Deep East Texas regions before transitioning in 2025 to the Training Division.
During her time with TDEM, she has managed multiple Type 1 incidents, including floods and hurricanes, hazardous materials incidents, and public health crises, such as Ebola and COVID-19.
Carman previously served as a police officer for 25 years with the City of Beaumont. During that time, Carman was a founding member of the city’s incident management team, which responded to Hurricanes Rita and Ike. She was also a founding member of the regional Golden Triangle Incident Management Team and deployed on state missions, including the 2008 Wildfire Season and the 2011 Bastrop County Complex Fire.
Carman is credentialed as a Type 3 Public Information Officer and Liaison Officer. She is a Certified Texas Emergency Manager (TEM) and International Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®). She graduated from Lamar University with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
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