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Levy County ratifies third and fourth extensions of drought and wildfire emergency
Summary
The Levy County Board of County Commissioners ratified the third and fourth extensions of the county’s local emergency declaration for drought and wildfire conditions and approved a proclamation recognizing Emergency Medical Service Week. Commissioners said the extended declarations support ongoing burn bans and emergency operations planning.
The Levy County Board of County Commissioners on May 17 ratified two successive extensions of the county’s local emergency declaration addressing drought and high wildfire risk.
Mary Ellen Harper, the county’s accounting manager, asked the board to ratify the third extension of the declaration tied to Resolution 2026‑10 and, immediately afterward, to ratify a fourth extension of the same declaration. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved both ratifications by voice vote.
The extensions keep in place the county’s heightened emergency posture and the countywide burn restrictions that the board first declared in February. Emergency management staff told the board work is underway to finalize design plans for a new emergency operations center, a facility the county says will more than double command‑floor space and be built to withstand major storms.
Also on Monday the board adopted a proclamation designating May 17–23, 2026 as Emergency Medical Service Week in Levy County, recognizing local EMS personnel and first responders for 24/7 life‑saving work.
Why it matters: Officials said the drought and elevated wildfire potential are ongoing concerns that require continued operational readiness and community awareness. The county’s emergency management office emphasized that the locally declared emergency supports coordination, resource allocations and public advisories including the current burn restrictions.
What’s next: Emergency management officials expect work on the new Emergency Operations Center to continue through design phases; the county plans additional community outreach and sustained monitoring of wildfire risk while the declarations remain in effect.
