HOUSTON COUNTY: 12:17 PM Once upon a time the weather information briefs came from Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management. And that was before the NON-BRILLIANT decisions of the “current” Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoupe, and County Commissioners D1 Curtis Harvey, D2 Tracy Adams, D3 Ricky Herring and D4 James Ivey.
So Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza has had to step up to the plate. The following is a weather Brief from Sheriff Valenza:
WHAT…Sub-freezing temperatures are expected. A Hard Freeze with temperatures in the low to mid 20s possible across portions of Southeast Alabama and Southwest Georgia. * WHERE…Portions of southeast Alabama, Big Bend and Panhandle Florida, and south central and southwest Georgia. * WHEN…From Monday evening through Tuesday morning. * IMPACTS…Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.
UPDATED @ 12:57 PM
Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Mark Powell said the Sheriff and EMA uses the exact same app. The information comes from National Weather Service and one might get the information a few seconds before the other and push the information out a few seconds to a minute faster. The he is concerned with the information getting pushed out regardless of what app sends it.
And I thank EMA Director Mark Powell for contacting me about it. And my reply was also that I like him but feel he non-responding and not being active in the county is solely at the direction of the Houston County Commission Chairman and members of the Houston County Commission. And that is my problem.
Responding with and being involved with the 17 Volunteer Fire, Houston County Rescue which is a search and rescue primarily on water, and the 5 EMS Services, in my opinion, is a role that EMA should be actively involved in.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE: Years ago then Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management Director Chris Judah set up a meeting with all Police Chief’s across the county and then Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish and Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza. The discussion item was school violence and or shootings.
A meeting was then set up with Volunteer Fire Chief’s across Houston County and EMS units. Houston County Sheriff Captain Donovan Arias was brought in and discussed the same about schools.
A exercise was set up for a Saturday to run through scenerios.
Then comes Houston County Sheriff Sgt. Ricky Herring as a Houston County Commissioner. He stops Dothan – Houston County Emergency Management and says that is not their role. The exercise failed with very little participation because of Sheriff Sgt./County Commissioner Ricky Herring actions. Only about 5 people showed up at the exercise. There has NEVER BEEN ANOTHER exercise set up. And that is the fault of the Houston County Commission Chairman and members of the Houston County Commission, of which two are Deputy Sheriff’s.
QUESTION: Is that not something that should be exercised or wait until something happens? Not EMA Director Mark Powell’s fault but the County Commissioners!
