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Carter County emergency management briefs commissioners on radio project and shelter limits
Summary
Communications and EMA directors briefed the commission: the new county radio system is still early in procurement and ‘about a three’ complete, and the county does not run warming shelters without Red Cross support because of staffing, medical and liability requirements.
Carter County’s public-safety and emergency-management leaders updated the commission on two related topics Jan. 17.
Communications Director Mark Ridings reported on the county’s radio communications project, saying he has delayed ordering equipment until installation is imminent so warranties do not begin while equipment would be stored. Ridings said the project is roughly "about a three" on a one-to-ten completion scale and that work continues with the U.S. Forestry Service and neighboring Avery County; tower testing for stability will be performed as new equipment is added.
EMA Director Billy Harrell briefed commissioners on winter-shelter capacity, explaining the county typically does not open county-operated warming shelters without the American Red Cross because running a shelter requires the county to provide food, water, 24-hour security and medical care, which would create additional liability. Harrell said the Red Cross has vetting and child-protection protocols and that unaccompanied minors require a chaperone coordinated with the Department of Children’s Services (DCS).
Both updates were informational; no formal action was taken during the meeting, though commissioners asked for follow-ups and thanked local organizations that provided assistance during December’s cold snap.
