Our Staff

John Tagg: Director
John Tagg has been the director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency since 1994. He is a certified emergency manager (CEM) and emergency medical technologist/paramedic (EMT/P).
Tagg attended West Virginia University, West Liberty State College, and West Virginia Northern Community College and has a degree in applied sciences. He also has taught public safety, emergency medical services, fire sciences, and hazardous materials at the university level. In addition, he has taught at the National Emergency Management Academy, National Fire Academy, Department of the Navy, Department of Energy, West Virginia University Fire Academy, and Ohio County Regional Education Services.

Tagg heads the Ohio County Hazardous Materials Response Team, which responds to incidents in seven counties in West Virginia, three counties in Ohio, and two counties in Pennsylvania, encompassing two regions of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Under his direction the team received a Partnership Award from EPA Region III.

In addition, Tagg is the Ohio County flood plain administrator and the former president and vice president of the West Virginia Emergency Management Council. He still serves the council as chairman of its Accreditation and Education Committee. He participates in Ohio and Belmont counties’ Terrorism Task Forces and has also worked for the West Virginia Department of Health.

The Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency was certified “StormReady” by the National Weather Service under Tagg’s leadership.

You can contact him at:

Wheeling–Ohio County
Emergency Management Agency
1500 Chapline St.
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304-234-3756
Fax: 304-234-3816
E-mail: jtagg@wocema.com