Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole

Assistant Director
Buncombe County Emergency Services
Buncombe County, N.C.

Ryan Cole is the Assistant Director of Buncombe County Emergency Services in Western North Carolina. He has been a student of emergency services for more than 30 years, serving in multiple positions within the fire and emergency services fields. Ryan began his journey in emergency services as a volunteer firefighter with the Reems Creek Fire Department while attending college. He holds a B.S. in Fire and Emergency Services Administration, is credentialed as a Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE), and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program. Throughout his career, Ryan has held numerous leadership positions. He proudly served as President of the North Carolina Association of Fire Chiefs and currently serves on the North Carolina Fire and Rescue Commission and the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Emergency Management Committee.

Catastrophic Flooding Impacts - Hurricane Helene in North Carolina (Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - 1:30-2:00pm)

Hurricane Helene devastated the mountain communities of Western North Carolina, causing catastrophic flooding and widespread impacts. This presentation will provide a firsthand emergency management perspective on the challenges faced before, during, and after the storm. Ryan Cole will share his experiences and lessons learned from the response and recovery efforts, including the impacts on communities, infrastructure, emergency services, and coordination among response partners.

Flood Disasters Roundtable – Emergency Management Perspective (Wednesday, October 21, 2026 - 2:45-5:00pm)

Summit speakers will participate in a roundtable discussion addressing flooding disasters across the country from an emergency management perspective. Panelists will share experiences, lessons learned, challenges, and best practices related to flood preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. The discussion will provide participants with practical insights into how communities and emergency management agencies can better prepare for and respond to significant flooding events.