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Emergency management reports major snow event, mitigation planning and training updates
Summary
Emergency management described a 12–13.5 inch snow event, estimated initial damage around $200,000, submission of a hazard mitigation plan to FEMA, new animal response planning and several upcoming trainings and grants.
Saline County’s emergency management representative reported the county experienced one of its largest single snowfall events in recent years and provided updates on recovery, planning and training.
Michelle, the county emergency management representative, told the board the storm deposited between 12 and 13.5 inches of snow and that current damage assessments total about $200,000. She said the state raised the damage threshold for public assistance and that Saline County now needs roughly $256,000 in damages to meet the state threshold for certain FEMA public assistance programs.
Michelle highlighted projects and training: a tactical first-aid class taught in partnership with the sheriff’s office and Salina Fire, a Mulberry Creek inundation map completed for flood planning, work with IT on a cyber security response and recovery annex for the emergency operations plan, and submission of an updated hazard mitigation plan to FEMA. The county is awaiting FEMA review and hopes for approval in the first quarter.
She also described community trainings the office supported in the last quarter — community emergency response training with 18 participants, a winter weather library presentation, Alice (active-threat) train-the-trainer participation, and planning for public information initiatives. Michelle said the county is launching an Animal Aid Alliance to build local capacity for animal response in disasters and noted rural Fire District 6 applied for a FEMA generator grant; an application decision is expected within a week.
Upcoming trainings include a tabletop exercise for inclement weather on Feb. 6 and CPR/AED training for rural fire volunteers on Feb. 12. Michelle noted med calls have risen steadily over the past two years compared with fire calls.
She closed by asking commissioners if there were questions; none were raised at the meeting.
