Emergency Management and Public Safety Personnel had been carefully watching the developing weather and the potential for a high impact weather event that could affect Clay County days ahead of a local State of Emergency being declared. Preparation and planning began well in advance of the storms approach, with County Leadership from various agencies meeting to discuss the implementation of protocols and procedures in the event that the pending weather became more imminent. Elected Leadership, County Administration, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County Emergency Management, Clay County EMS, Clay County Fire and Rescue, Clay County 911, Clay County Health Department, Clay County Social Services, Clay County Maintenance, Clay County Schools, NC Department of Transportation, NC Highway Patrol and US Forest Service all participated in various stages of the planning and ensuing response to the storm.
As the forecast continued to develop and the threat of severe weather to the area became more likely, a State of Emergency was declared for Clay County and the Town of Hayesville. The State of Emergency was drafted Thursday morning and went into effect at 12PM that day.
The State of Emergency allowed the county to better coordinate with state and federal authorities in the event additional resources became needed both during and after the storm.
It also allowed us to fully implement the Clay County Emergency Operations Plan. At the same time an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was set up at that Clay County Sheriff’s Office. The EOC was fully staffed with Emergency Management and Public Safety Personnel from multiple organizations, including the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Clay County EM/EMS, Clay County 911 and Clay County Fire and Rescue.
Thursday evening, while at the EOC, the decision was made to open an Emergency Shelter at the Clay County Senior Center which is one of our two American Red Cross certified shelters. The shelter opened at 7PM. Simultaneously, the Brasstown Community Center, our other approved facility, was put on standby if additional shelter was needed. These decisions were in anticipation of mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders which ultimately soon followed. These decisions were all made out of an abundance of caution and pre-emptively based on the continued forecast of devastating rain and winds and subsequent flooding.
From the initial planning stages till the execution of our emergency orders, leadership was focused on minimizing the loss of lives and property. Our proactive measures were meant to diminish the need for rescue and recovery of the most flood prone and susceptible areas of the county so resources could be utilized in other areas and capacities. Due to the late more eastward track of the storm, Clay County was spared the devastating effects of Helene.
Thankfully, many of the measures put in place did not need to be utilized. Friday morning the decision to close the shelter was made and resources initially requested by Emergency Management were cancelled so those assets could be moved east to the areas ravaged by the storm.
Since the passing of the storm, County Leadership has continued to be engaged with other regional, state and federal agencies as rescue and recovery operations continue throughout Western North Carolina. Leadership and staff have met multiple times to discuss how to best utilize our resources and man power to assist those in need. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County EMS have had boots on the ground in Black Mountain, NC since the weekend and continue to assist Black Mountain, Montreat and Avery County while also helping facilitate the collection and distribution of donations and supplies.
Currently, an analysis of our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to our Emergency Management planning and preparation continues in advance of potential future emergency and public safety events. We also are working hard to help address to the extent possible the ongoing lack of telecommunications resulting from the storm and the effect this has on daily operating procedures and activities of county government, local businesses and our residents. Working with partners, we have secured a Verizon Rapid Response Portable Cell Tower and are also waiting the deployment of Starlink Systems from FEMA.
The Clay County Board of Commissioners is extremely thankful and blessed for the cooperation and coordination of all of our departments and other local agencies throughout the course of these events. While no amount of planning could possibly prevent the destruction of Helene, leadership will continue to do our best to ensure the safety of our county. We will continue to look for ways to help our neighbors east of us and encourage you to donate if able to one of the local organizations looking to get vital supplies and necessities to the storm victims. Most importantly, we ask that you join us in continuing to pray for all those so deeply affected by Helene as well as all those working tirelessly to help in the rescue and recovery. Through it all, we have witnessed the greatness of our citizens as they come together spreading hope through their kindness and charity to the suffering. For this we thank you.
Clay County Board of Commissioners
コメント