The City of Diboll should be safer because of improvements in its emergency preparedness capabilities over the last several months. As with every town in East Texas, things were very difficult during the response and evacuation of the Texas coast during Hurricane Rita. However, officials of the City of Diboll has made many moves to assure the possibility of things going smoother when, and if, the next catastrophe strikes.
Because of the loss of electricity during Rita, the operation of government was severely hampered. The effect, while being difficult to overcome, will not be as severe next time. The city has installed a natural gas powered generator that will provide City Hall and the Police/Fire Station with full power. Also, Community Development Block Grant money has been sought and allocated as to power water wells, which will lessen the occurrence of a water shortage when there is no electricity.
Personnel changes have also been made to strengthen capabilities. In July 2006, City Manager Kenneth Williams came on board bringing with him a plethera of experience; He served as Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Lufkin for nine years and coordinated Lufkin's response to Hurricane Rita, Katrina and the Space Shuttle Columbia before coming to Diboll. He also serves as Chairman of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Emergency Preparedness Taskforce, which serves a twelve county region. Police Chief Kent Havard has been appointed the new Emergency Management coordinator for Diboll, and handles all day-to-day operation of emergency response. Chief Havard was very instrumental in Diboll's response to Rita.
In planning for the future, actions have been taken to ease responses to major emergencies. The city now has needed supplies stored inside the city at all times, which may be used only in emergencies. Within the last few weeks' funds from the State Homeland Security Program have been approved for the purchase of a generator to power the radio tower and another for a lighting tower generator for use during night responses. This grant will also provide funds for the development of City Hall as an Emergency Operations Center by purchasing a security system to secure the entire building, T-1 server capability for enhanced communications and a big screen television for monitoring bad weather and other emergency situations.
Agreements have been made with the American Red Cross for personnel and supply assistance when needed. Also, work is ongoing with the Angelina Counties Cities Health District in developing a plan and responding to a possible outbreak of the Pandemic Flu. Mr. Williams experience in dealing with the State Division of Emergency will also be an asset.
The City will continue its efforts to enhance the emergency preparedness capabilities for the citizens of Diboll. For it is not if something happens again, but a matter of when.
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