WALTHALL — Webster County supervisors discussed road and bridge damage from February’s ice storm with state officials last week.
Two representatives from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency met with the Board of Supervisors on March 15: Office of Recovery Branch Director Rick Christian and Area Coordinator Tracy Pharr. County EMA Director Barry Rushing and Deputy EMA Director Tom Booth were also present.
Supervisors said that in addition to damage from the ice and snow itself over an eight- to 12-day period on shady parts of roads, clearing the roads also damaged chipseal. District 5 had the worst damage, according to the discussion.
On Feb. 16, the board issued a proclamation of the existence of a local emergency from the winter storm and adopted a resolution requesting the governor to proclaim a state of emergency in the county. Board President Pat Cummings asked Christian and Pharr if the county was eligible for public assistance because of the road damage.
According to a March 19 press release from MEMA, the state is requesting a time extension from FEMA to submit for a major disaster declaration because of the winter weather event that occurred Feb. 11-19.
The initial date to submit the request was March 21 and MEMA is requesting a new deadline of April 16. The agency is working with counties and FEMA to complete joint damage assessments. In order to request a major disaster declaration, FEMA’s validated numbers must be used. The state is requesting Public Assistance, which is federal assistance for county and municipal governments.
Christian said the county should document all road damage through a written narrative and photographs, along with equipment and manpower (overtime) expenses.
“Once we ask for a (federal) declaration, you’ll be added if you meet the threshold,” he told supervisors.
Any public assistance provided the county will require a 12.5% match.
911 CAD System
Also last week, the board discussed 911 computer-aided dispatch, which automatically notifies the responding agency as new incident data is available. This came after supervisors toured the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center on March 4.
CAD eliminates the need for 911 call centers to call or radio responding agencies, according to online information. The board also discussed additional uses for the CodeRED mass alert system that would be available through CAD.
The board instructed radio technician Paul Lanthrip to obtain prices on the CAD system and any needed compatible equipment.
District 3 Supervisor Randy Rico was not present March 15 because of the death of his wife the day before.
