National Preparedness Month: Meet EMSD’s Chancellor Gregg 

Throughout National Preparedness Month, New Yorkers are reminded to be prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.   

Among the members of NYCHA’s team overseeing preparedness efforts for the community is Chancellor “Chance” Gregg, Training and Exercise Coordinator in the Emergency Management and Services Department (EMSD), who has worked at the Authority since 2020.   

NYCHANow spoke with Mr. Gregg about his team’s work to advance preparedness across NYCHA and his passion for improving community safety.   

In your role, how do you promote preparedness for the NYCHA community? 

We often talk about the importance of being prepared during “blue skies” so that we are ready to operate effectively during “gray skies.” A significant part of preparedness happens behind the scenes — through training, planning, exercising, building relationships, and continuously improving our processes.  

In my current role, I develop and deliver emergency management training for NYCHA staff. I also develop and facilitate emergency management exercises, including tabletop exercises and drills. I am currently facilitating tabletop exercises for our Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Disaster Recovery teams. 

In addition to my training and exercise responsibilities, I serve as one of NYCHA’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) managers. In that capacity, I have led multiple EOC activations, helping ensure that coordination, communication, and decision making remain effective during emergencies ranging from severe weather events and public health crises to structural integrity issues at NYCHA developments. 

Preparedness also means engaging directly with our residents. I participate in Family Days, Fire Symposiums, NYCHA in Your Neighborhood events, and other community outreach opportunities where we can speak with residents face-to-face about emergency preparedness and provide them with information and resources to help them prepare for a wide range of emergencies. 

Why is it important to spotlight this work during National Preparedness Month?  

It gives the people behind the work an opportunity to showcase what they do every day. It also reminds everyone that there are people across NYCHA who are constantly thinking about the “what ifs” and the worst-case scenarios — not just for the country or the city, but specifically for the NYCHA community. 

Preparedness is much bigger than Emergency Management. It is the collective work happening across the entire Authority. It’s the training provided through Learning and Development, the fire safety checks conducted by Fire Safety, the SafeNYCHA notices developed by Environmental Health & Safety, the sustainability work led by Asset & Capital Management, the safety efforts of Public Safety, the logistical support provided by our warehouse teams, and the outreach conducted by Resident Services, Partnerships, & Initiatives.  

Preparedness is about building that foundation every day — so that when we experience those “gray skies,” we can rely on the work, relationships, training, systems, and processes that were built during “blue skies.” 

Spotlighting this work shows that preparedness is everyone’s responsibility, and everyone at NYCHA has a role in helping us be ready. While the theme of this year’s Preparedness Month is “Americans Stand Ready,” I would bring it a little closer to home and say, “NYCHA Stands Ready.” 

How does it feel to help residents and staff be better prepared for emergencies? 

It means the world to me to have the opportunity to help our residents and staff be better prepared for emergencies.  

AmeriCorps FEMA Corps is where I was introduced to the world of emergency management and discovered that this was the field I wanted to dedicate my career to. In 2015, I was honored to receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama, as well as the Congressional Award for Service. 

My experiences have continued to reinforce how important preparedness is. I’m originally from South Carolina (so I grew up understanding the threat of hurricanes), and through my work with FEMA, I’ve also seen firsthand the destruction and disruption that disasters can cause. 

Being able to take what I’ve learned throughout my career and use it to help NYCHA staff and residents prepare for whatever emergencies they may encounter is incredibly meaningful to me. 

Ultimately, for me, preparedness is about people. It’s about giving someone the knowledge, resources, and confidence to know what to do when an emergency happens. If the work I do can help someone feel more prepared, help a staff member respond more effectively, or even make a difficult situation a little safer for a resident, then I know I’m doing what I set out to do.