BY JESSICA SHORTEN & LIZZY SPANGLER
Montgomery County expands preparedness The Montgomery County O ce of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is working to prepare for emergency scenarios while becom- ing a regional hub for more rural counties. A closer look County o cials approved accepting one new mobile command unit for $1.25 million during the Oct. 10 Commissioners Court meeting. It will provide a recovery space for rst responders as well as transporting any injured persons. A 17,000-square-foot storage facility holds thousands of supplies that can be deployed to locations across the county during an emergency, but the length of time it takes to transport those resources is often delayed by the emergency in question, said Jason Millsaps, director of emer- gency management.
City of Montgomery discusses 3-year terms During its Oct. 24 meeting, Montgomery City Council discussed the potential of extending the terms of council members from two to three years, but no action was taken. Zooming out City Administrator Gary Palmer said council members can change their term length to a maximum of four years with a majority vote by quali ed voters. If the vote passes, the new term length would only apply to newly elected members, council member Casey Olsen said. “The city is growing so much, and a two- year term really—you don’t get a lot done,” council member Cheryl Fox said. “A three- year term would be good. ... That way, your council would be more consistent and have more continuity.”
Jason Millsaps, executive director of emergency management, shows the county’s store of oxygen tanks.
JESSICA SHORTEN COMMUNITY IMPACT
What’s being done As a result, county o cials are looking at constructing additional shelter and storage spaces at each precinct in Montgomery County. Funding and construction of the buildings are still being discussed, and no funding has been dedicated at this time. Millsaps said the new facilities would allow them to keep a set amount of emergency supplies in each precinct and have surplus at the main storage facility to reduce wait times in emergencies.
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CONROE MONTGOMERY EDITION
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