Watching Columbia - Gordon and In Between

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 6444

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Feb 12 2018 5:35 PM

COLUMBIA - GORDON:     A vigil is being kept on the Chattahoochee River in Houston County.

Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza, members of the Houston County Sheriff Department and Dothan - Houston County Emergency Management, in partnership with Columbia Mayor Rhonda Freeman, Columbia Councilman / Dothan - Houston County Management Team Member Jesse Ingram, Columbia Police Chief Phillip Killingsworth, Columbia Fire Chief Clint Wright, are keeping watch vigil’s on the Chattahoochee River water levels.

Emergency Management Chris Judah dispatched the R2 Communications Vehicle to Columbia and staged it in front of the Columbia Fire Rescue Headquarters. This vehicle is capable of connecting all communications groups together as well as setting up video monitoring systems of the waterways.

AT THIS TIME the possibility of the water coming out of the banks is believed a remote chance. The water level was 93.7 at 7:00 AM Eastern Time. Problems do not start occurring until about 108.

In Gordon, Gordon UNPAID PROFESSIONAL FIRE CHIEF Justin McCallister is helping the Sheriff Valenza, EMA Director Judah and staff members in keeping a close eye on the river banks in Gordon.

Director Judah said it is the role of Emergency Management and it’s law enforcement, UNPAID PROFESSIONAL and PAID PROFESSIONAL Fire and EMS Agencies to keep watchful eyes for anything of danger. Judah and the others have made commitments when they took reigns to be proactive and not reactive.

Columbia Mayor Rhonda Freeman and Gordon UNPAID PROFESSIONAL FIRE Chief Justin McCallister have been important ingredients with their people in making plans on “what if’s”. Mayor Freeman said she had rather be prepared and nothing happen than something happen and no pre-planning to have been in place.

This morning members of the Houston County Commission, Chairman Mark Culver and Commissioners Curtis Harvey, Doug Sinquefield, Jackie Battles and Brandon Shoupe were briefed on proactive actions being taken. The entire commission were 100 percent supportive in all actions being taken to be proactive.

<- back