The city has a new Commissioner of Emergency Management starting this week.

Deanne Criswell was appointed last month, after former Commissioner Joseph Esposito was ousted for mishandling a November snowstorm that crippled the city.

She is the first woman to lead the department in the city's history.

Criswell comes with a 25-year background in emergency response and crisis management.

Her experience includes time with FEMA, the Colorado Air National Guard, and the private sector.

Criswell says her priorities are trying to advance emergency management and using data to have a better situational awareness.

"That's the most critical part of being an emergency manager. Taking advantage of those days and looking at your plans, looking at what you did in the past, making sure that you're implementing training and exercises to better prepare our staff as well as working with the rest of the city to make sure that we are ready for the next event that happens," Criswell added.

Criswell says she would also like to build private sector partnerships to increase readiness as well as preparedness.