Chuck Wallace is no longer the deputy director of Grays Harbor County’s Emergency Management department.

Sheriff Rick Scott said the county wanted to go in a different direction to provide the best services possible for the people of Grays Harbor County.

On Wednesday, Scott announced the hiring of new Deputy Director of Emergency Management Hannah Cleverly. The Grays Harbor County Commissioners approved the hire at the Sept. 18 meeting.

“We are confident that Mrs. Cleverly brings the knowledge and enthusiasm moving forward with Emergency Management,” Scott said in a statement.

Cleverly’s background includes almost five years at Grays Harbor Community Hospital, where she managed the Emergency Management and Security programs.

“During her time at the hospital, she was able to forge great relationships with many agencies that will continue to strengthen the communication and interactions between jurisdictions and Grays Harbor County Emergency Management. Although not from Grays Harbor originally, Hannah was born and raised in Sammamish, but moved to Aberdeen where she resides with her husband and two small children,” according to the statement.

Wallace had worked for Emergency Management for more than nine years. He also was volunteer fire chief for Grayland and a Grays Harbor County Fire District 11 commissioner, according to his LinkedIn page.

When reached by phone Monday, Wallace said he did not want to comment.

In a letter to The Daily World, Wallace said, “I would like to personally thank you (the citizens of Grays Harbor) for your support over the last nine years … .”

In January, Wallace took responsibility for a tsunami watch notification not reaching many people in Grays Harbor County.

The notification system sends automated texts, emails and phone calls to people who have signed up for it. The problem that caused the lack of notifications has since been corrected, Wallace said in February.