At the Lion’s Club meeting held on Feb. 24, Kaufman County Emergency Management Coordinator Steve Howie was the guest speaker where he shared recent highlights from the Emergency Management Office.
Howie first spoke on a new service to assist those with mobility issues. If a loved one or someone you know is wheelchair bound, hooked to oxygen, or simply does not get around well anymore, the Emergency Management Office offers a helping hand by conducting periodical home visits to make sure that said individual is in good health.
“In the event of a disaster, we’ll make sure somebody goes by and checks on them,” said Howie. “If you have a neighbor that needs help, please help them. And if all else fails, call the office, and we’ll help them.”
The Emergency Management Office also offers assistance during weather-related issues and power outages. The office is currently working on new programs to better assist the community after bad weather strikes.
“If you look at statistics, approximately 60% of businesses in the area – if hit by a tornado – will pick-up and leave rather than rebuild,” Howie shared in his speech. “If you take that down to residents, up to 35% will leave. If you imagine the top end of those numbers, what’s it going to do to our county?”
One way they are already assisting this initiative is through their economic recovery program. Small business start-up can come with a lot of obstacles, but small business in Kaufman is a key driver of community economy. Howie spoke of their program that extends helping hands to struggling businesses. If a business is financially struggling due to weather impact, the Emergency Management Office could be a potential resource.
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