Travis County seeks to improve disaster response in case of more fires

By Juan Castillo
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Published: 8:29 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

Travis County commissioners on Tuesday approved measures to improve the county's disaster response in the event of more wildfires like the ones that destroyed homes and acreage in Spicewood, Steiner Ranch and Pflugerville.

Most of the half-dozen measures approved on a unanimous vote seek to clarify information for victims about fire recovery assistance, centralize dissemination of that information and explain what the county can and cannot do.

Commissioners asked the county's legal staff to consider a number of other suggestions presented by county Public Works Department Director Steve Manila. Before voting, the commissioners heard from three county residents who described confusion during efforts to get aid in the aftermath of the Spicewood fire.

"This is the first time we've been tested in an emergency like this," Precinct 3 Commissioner Karen Huber said Tuesday. "What we're trying to do is be sure things aren't slipping between the cracks and that we do have a plan for response in the event of another disaster."

Among the measures approved by commissioners:

• Working with fire departments to develop a system for receiving and acting on information from victims, responders and recovery groups.
• Developing a fact sheet to explain county areas of responsibility and legal parameters.
• Developing a similar document about recovery-related assistance provided by federal agencies, national disaster assistance organizations, volunteer groups and the county.
• Setting up temporary permitting for those seeking permits to rebuild damaged or destroyed homes.

Huber said she wanted to be clear that she did not think Travis County came up short in its response to the wildfires.

She said that having a central point of coordination and dissemination of information would help alleviate confusion about "not just what we can do, but what others can do."

jcastillo@statesman.com; 445-3635

Link to article online

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