County Executive Mike Callagy has named Dr. Shruti Dhapodkar as the new director of the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management, which is responsible for coordinating emergency planning, response and recovery for the entire county.
While the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors in a vote at its Sept. 12 meeting, Dhapodkar will play a key role in addressing challenges arising from earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis, pandemics, climate change and other threats and crises, both natural and man-made.
Shruti Dhapodkar, who was born in India and moved with her family to Illinois, will become the first woman to lead the county's emergency management agency.
“We have faced many different types of crises in a short period of time in San Mateo County and I know Shruti is extremely prepared to take the department to new heights,” Callagy said. “With her leadership, I am confident we will be prepared to respond to the needs of our residents before, during and after any crisis.”
Dhapodkar (pronounced “Dha POD Car”), served as emergency manager for the San Mateo County Health Department since 2017, and was brought into the fold at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As COVID-19 case numbers grew in the spring of 2020, Dhapodkar provided information and insight to policymakers and served as a liaison to the Bay Area Association of Health Officials, then helped launch and coordinate mass vaccination and testing sites with a focus on reaching the most at-risk communities.
“During those early days of the pandemic and throughout that crisis, I was impressed with Shruti’s work ethic, her decision-making, and her ability to accomplish what seemed impossible,” Callagy said.
In that regard, he added that Dhapodkar played a key role in establishing a drive-thru model vaccination center and used his creative emergency response skills to help keep the San Mateo County community safe and vaccinated.
Shruti Dhapodkar trained as a surgeon, however she was drawn to the complex challenges of disaster planning and emergency management.
“These past few years have been unprecedented in the number, variety and complexity of challenges we have faced as a county,” Dhapodkar said. “What these challenges have shown us is that it is more important than ever that we collaborate and coordinate with a wide variety of community groups and partners to prepare for whatever comes next.”
With an annual budget of $5.3 million and 10 employees, the Department of Emergency Management supports the 20 cities within San Mateo County during large-scale disasters and emergencies.
The department also serves as a lever through which local agencies can request assistance from the state and federal governments.
“I am always the one who finds calm in the chaos,” Dhapodkar said.
Dhapodkar is expected to assume his new role on Monday, October 2. He will succeed Don Mattei, who is retiring after a career of more than 40 years in public safety.
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