Monticello Mayor Jason Akers and Drew County Judge Jessie Griffin, co-hosted a meeting to discuss ideas of how to better serve the local citizens in the event of a weather related disaster similar to last week’s ice storm.
The meeting was set to discuss things that were done efficiently and things that could be done better in the future when an event of this nature occurs.
Members of the Monticello City Council, Police Department, Fire Department, Drew County Sheriff Tim Nichols and others were present to participate in the discussion.
The Drew County Office of Emergency Management is now working on a matrix or organizational chart that will help government officials and citizens understand locations for warming centers, food pick-ups, fuel stations and more. Once available, this chart will be published by the Advance-Monticellonian.
First Baptist Church was set to be the designated warming station for citizens who do not have heat during storm outages and the Drew County Fairgrounds were designated as a place where downed trees can be taken.
Public Works Manager Charlie Hammock stated that the City Public Works Department was working diligently to pick up broken limbs that have been piled up and placed on the corner of properties. The City and County encourage able bodied citizens to please take broken limbs to the Fairgrounds. Anyone that needs City assistance with limb removal can call 870-367-3415 to be placed on the list for pick up.
Two large trash receptacles have been placed by the Monticello Police Department building for citizens to drop off extra bagged household trash.
Ideas that were discussed by other meeting attendees were options for pets during power outages, wellness checks by volunteer fire departments, a centralized call center for citizens to receive up to date information, a place to get food and blankets, equipping law enforcement officers with chain saws to clear trees from roads as long as no power lines were present and LED lighting at intersections to prevent accidents.
Griffin also stated that clearing roads to the Emergency Room at the hospital will be made a priority as well as the students at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the residents at the Baptist Home and Presbyterian Home.
Local churches will be contacted to see how they can participate or what they can contribute during times of crisis. Anyone wishing to volunteer services should contact the Mayor or Judge’s office.
