Final Hazardous Mitigation Meeting Held for Worth County

The third and final Hazardous Mitigation Meeting for Worth County was held in Sheridan Monday to iron out details of the Hazardous Mitigation Plan that has to be submitted every five years to the state and to FEMA. Submission of this plan is required for jurisdictions to get federal disaster funding. Worth County has had 10 storm disaster declarations since 1990 with between $15 million and $35 million in crop damage claims filed. The county has had nine disaster declarations since 1965 for extreme weather, five since 1965 for winter storms, and four for tornado damage. Worth County has had six confirmed tornadoes since 2000, surprisingly low. The most severe was an EF2 event in 2001. The most severe is an EF 5. A few years ago, Worth County was on the southern edge of a massive derecho that passed through Iowa and caused over $1 billion in damages. 

The last update to the plan was in March 2022. It was conducted via zoom, with the whole country just emerging from COVID-19. Each jurisdiction will review and adopt the revised plan, provide data, and develop action items. These can be carried over from the last cycle. 

As part of the new plan, a public survey was conducted, with 153 responses. Disasters identified as concerns included thunderstorms, extreme winter weather, and drought. Disasters identified as having the most potential impact for the county included tornadoes, drought, extreme temperatures, and extreme winter weather. The county and the whole region experienced a massive ice storm in 2009 that knocked out power for a few days. 

Solutions that a majority of respondents were in favor of were the creation of tornado-safe rooms, retrofitting existing shelters, stopping soil erosion, flood mitigation, electrical retrofitting, and retrofitting from wind damage. There used to be a tornado shelter at the Sheridan Housing many years ago, but it has been dug in. The county conducts regular testing of storm sirens; there was one conducted earlier this month. 

Goals identified in the event of a disaster included preserving human life, safety, and health, continuing essential services, protecting property, and returning to normal. 

Continuing action items include educating and notifying the public, reviewing and incorporating flood insurance maps, identifying structures, people, facilities, and infrastructure at risk, implementing emergency communications, obtaining backup power generators, and building infrastructure to mitigate flooding. 

There are 64 dams in the county, including three that are critical, including the one just northeast of the Sheridan Housing. 

Worth County is in a low-risk area for earthquakes. Occasionally, people will feel small tremors when an earthquake occurs hundreds of miles away, and animals will become agitated. 

It is up to local water districts to implement conservation measures in the event of an extreme drought. Any jurisdiction can pass a burn ban provided that they notify the State Fire Marshal’s office. Jurisdictions do not require advance approval to do so. The county has occasionally passed burn bans in the past during extreme droughts or situations where there was a high risk of wildfires. 

The risk of wildfires is rare in both the county and the state, but not non-zero. Around 25-30 years ago, there was a wildfire west of Sheridan that nearly got to the Housing; it took a massive effort by emergency responders to stop the fire. 

Local jurisdictions have one week to turn in action items for the new Hazardous Mitigation Plan. After that, a public comment period will be held for the draft plan. Following the public comment period, a final draft plan will be adopted by all the jurisdictions, and it will be submitted to the state, and then FEMA. 

Worth County Emergency Management Director’s Report for May 24th, 2021

 COVID-19

–Weekly Missouri increase of 1,961 positive cases for a total of 509,641 year to date.

–Weekly statewide increase in deaths is 147 to reach 9,006 deaths statewide; most affected age group is 80+.

–Largest positive cases consist of 18-24 year olds; second most affected is 25-29.

–Weekly increase of 0 cases for Worth County; total positive cases 216.

–Weekly increase of 0 for Worth County deaths; total deaths remain at 2.

–The State of Missouri has no state mandates in place.

–Statewide administered doses – 4,445,358 have received at least one dose; 33.9% are fully vaccinated.

–All adult Missouri residents are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; individuals 12 and older can get the Pfizer vaccine.

–To add your name to the vaccination request list, contact the Tri-County Health Department at (660) 783-2702 with name, age, and phone number.

Summary

–COVID hotline (877) 435-8411 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

–Mosaic Medical Center Maryville nurses line for questions; (660) 562-5357.

–Disaster Distress Helpline (800) 985-5990; this line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Abby Hawk Hired as Emergency Management Director

The Worth County Commission, at its regular meeting last Monday, hired Abby Hawk as the new Emergency Management Director. The county went into closed session at 10:30 am that morning and came out at 12:25 pm. The vote was unanimous.

Road & Bridge Foreman Jim Fletchall asked for, and received, permission to replace a small bridge with a tube on County Road 18/Clay Avenue.

Gene Auten Named as Emergency Management Director

County Commission Minutes from May 23rd
Presiding Commissioner Ted Findley brought the meeting to order at 9:02 am.

In the absence of Clerk Roberta Owens, Ted Findley appointed Linda Brown to take the minutes.

Commissioner Regan Nonneman made a motion to approve minutes and agenda.   Commissioner Ted Findley seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Commissioner Regan Nonneman made a motion to approve the payroll and bills. Commissioner Ted Findley seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Gene Auten gave a reported that he has been sorting and organizing the EMP materials.  He has spent some time with Gentry County EMD, Jim Booth.  We need to get an exercise in this year for the LEPC organization. They let Pat slide on last year’s exercise because of her health condition. But they can’t let it go again to keep our funding.

Mary Seat stopped in and reported the Library received $100,000 is USDA Grant money. She also invited them to a presentation of the check that will be held at the Library at 11:15.

Christina Charles stopped in to request the use of the courtyard for a Memorial Auxiliary cook off on August 19th, 20th and 21st.  The funds will have to go Military Suicide Prevention Program.  The commissioners agreed to let her have use of the courtyard.

Mike Rinehart stopped by to remind the commissioners that Hwy C will be closed today through August, from Allendale to Albany for Bridge deck repair.

Barb Foland stopped in to invite the commissioners to Donna Lynch’s retirement party that will be held Friday the 27th.

Jim Fletchall and Doyle Parman came in to discuss the river taking his field and the county road by the bridge.  They decided to call in the Corp of Engineers to manage the problem.  Ron Rauch also came in to discuss the situation.  The only way to get help from the Conservation is to be declared a disaster first.

Linda gave the commissioners Clerk Owens business and reports from the clerk’s office.

Commissioner Findley signed paperwork for Gene Auten’s appointment to EMD for the state.

Treasurer Linda Brown presented financial report, bills and payroll.

The commissioners discussed building on to the east side of the county barn.

Commissioner Regan Nonneman made a motion to adjourn at 11:25. Commissioner Chevy Davidson seconded. All in favor, motion carried.

Pat Kobbe, Emergency Services Director, Will Be Missed

On March 26th, emergency services personnel paid their final respects to Pat Kobbe. The Sheridan and Grant City Fire Departments along with the Worth County Ambulance participated, blocking off Route 46 as she was buried at the Grant City Cemetery. She was instrumental in helping the county recover after the Ice Storm as well as the Grant City Square Fire. She obtained hundreds of thousands of dollars for the county after numerous storms that washed away our roads and forced county crews to do days and weeks of extra work keeping them up.

The Ice Storm of 2007 shut down the entire area and knocked out the entire area from Iowa to Oklahoma. In this area, nearly all the radio stations were knocked off the air because the power was out; the Sheridan Express didn’t print because the electricity was out at the printer’s. Trees were snapped off like sticks and the power was not restored to the area for three days. Kobbe was instrumental in making sure there were generators so that people could stay at Orilla’s Way or the WCCC (Now the Worth County Care & Rehab Center). She helped secure generators for the county so that if a catastrophe like this happened again, people would have places to stay.

Despite battling illness, she never let it stop her from doing whatever it took to help the county prepare for disasters and avoid the worst effects. We learned a lot from the two tornado awareness programs she helped organize for the area. She helped get sirens for every community in the county so that there would be a warning in the event a tornado did strike the area. A few years ago, the sirens were activated for real as a twister near Parnell was headed directly for Grant City. Luckily, it fizzled out; however, people were prepared in case of the worst.

Worth County Emergency Management Ordinance

BE IT ORDERED (ORDAINED) by the County of Worth that
Section 1.
There is hereby created within and for the territory of the County of Worth an emergency management organization to be known as the Worth County Emergency Management Agency, which is responsible for the preparation and implementation of emergency functions required to prevent, minimize and repair injury and damage due to disasters, to include emergency management of resources and administration of such economic controls as may be needed to provide for the welfare of the people, and emergency activities (excluding functions for which military forces are primarily responsible) in accordance with Chapter 44, Revised Statutes of Missouri, 44.080, and supplements thereto, and the Missouri Emergency Operations Plan adopted thereunder.
Section 2.
This agency shall consist of a Director and other members appointed by the Presiding Commissioner to conform to the State organization and procedures for the conduct of emergency operations as outlined in the Missouri Emergency Operation Plan.
Section 3.
The organization shall perform emergency management functions within the territorial limits of Worth County and may conduct these functions outside the territorial limits as directed by the Governor during the time of emergency pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 44, Revised Statutes of Missouri, 44.080, and supplements thereto.
Section 4.
(1) (Director) The Director will be appointed by the Presiding Commissioner and shall serve during the pleasure of the Presiding Commissioner.
(2) The Director shall have direct responsibility for the organization, administration and operations of local emergency management activities.
(3) The Director shall be responsible for maintaining records and accounting for the use and disposal of all items of equipment placed under the jurisdiction of the Emergency Management Agency.
Section 5.
The Presiding Commissioner of Worth County and the Director, in accordance with Chapter 44, Revised Statutes of Missouri, 44.080, and supplements thereto, may:
(1) Appropriate and expend funds, make contracts, obtain and distribute equipment, materials, and supplies for emergency management purposes; provide for the health and safety of persons, including emergency assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters, or national emergency; the safety of property; and direct and coordinate the development of disaster plans and programs in accordance with policies and plans of the federal and state emergency management agencies;
(2) In the event of a national emergency or severe local emergency endangering public health, welfare, life or public property, waive the normal purchasing/supply requisition procedures, upon approval of the Presiding Commissioner and in accordance with state statutes and any local emergency procurement procedures formally adopted by Worth County.
(3) Appoint, provide, or remove rescue teams, auxiliary fire and police personnel and other emergency operations teams, units or personnel who may serve without compensation;
(4) With the approval of the Governor and consistent with the Missouri Emergency Operations Plan, enter into mutual aide agreements with other public and private agencies within and without the State for reciprocal emergency aid;
(5) Accept donated goods/services to benefit disaster victims, and services, materials, equipment, supplies or funds granted or loaned by the federal government for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery purposes.
Section 6. (Oath) No person shall be employed or associated in any capacity in any organization established under this act who advocates or has advocated a change by force or violence in the constitutional form of the government of the United States or in this State or the overthrow of any government in the United States by force or violence, or has been convicted of or is under indictment or information charging any subversive act against the United States. Each person who is appointed to serve in an organization shall, before entering upon his duties, take an oath in writing, before a person authorized to administer oaths in this state which oath shall be substantially as follows:
“I,____________________________, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Missouri, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State by force or violence; and that during such a time as I am a member of the Worth County Emergency Management Agency, I will not advocate nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State by force or violence.”
Section 7. (Office Space) The Presiding Commissioner is authorized to designate space in any County owned or leased building for the Worth County Emergency Management Office.
Section 8.
This Order (Ordinance) shall be in force from and after its passage and approval, as provided by law, and replaces the August 15, 1988 Ordinance any other preceding order (Ordinance) for Worth County for Emergency Management.
Whereas , pursuant to 192.300 RSMo., a county commission may make and promulgate orders, ordinances, rules and regulations, respectively as will tend to enhance the public Emergency Management. The Worth County Commission hereby adopts and desires as follows: The Worth County Emergency Management Ordinance was then adopted by a roll vote. Commissioner Rob Ruckman, aye. Commissioner Dennis Gabbert, aye. Presiding Commissioner Findley aye.
A copy of the Ordinance is on file, and can be viewed by the public in the County Clerk’s Office 11 W 4th Grant City, MO.