Cornyn Announces East End Volunteer Fire Department to Receive $84,550 Grant

WASHINGTON— East End Volunteer Fire Department will receive a grant of $84,550 to support firefighters and their work as first responders, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Friday. The funding can be used for training and support operations, and to purchase firefighter safety and rescue equipment. It comes through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

“This funding will help make sure first responders at the East End Volunteer Fire Department will have the resources necessary to keep the surrounding community safe,” Sen. Cornyn said. “We have a responsibility to support those working on the front lines every day to protect families, homes and property.”

The award aims to enhance first responders' ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel, with respect to fire-related hazards.

Sen. Cornyn has held roundtables with emergency first responders across Texas as part of his ongoing effort to support their work. The events provide communities with the opportunity to express their needs and concerns directly to Sen. Cornyn.

The Office of Grants and Training, a component of the DHS Preparedness Directorate, partners with state and local officials to strengthen the capabilities of first responders in addressing emergencies and catastrophic incidents. The program provides a broad array of assistance to America’s emergency responders through funding, coordinated training, exercises, equipment acquisition, and technical assistance.

Sen. Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary, Agriculture and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee’s Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA Expects Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season

Hurricane Preparedness Week in Texas

The week of May 23-29 , 2010 has been set as Hurricane Preparedness Week in Texas. This is an opportunity for everyone to become aware of the potential dangers and hazards that a hurricane can bring. Take this week to become familiar with emergency plans, evacuation routes and have supply kits prepared.

Burn ban in effect witihin the City of Jasper

The City of Jasper has announced an order restricting outdoor burning within the city. The ban, which prohibits all outdoor burning, in any form or fashion, was signed into effect, shortly after 2:00, on Tuesday afternoon, by Mayor Mike Lout, following discussions with City fire marshal Robert Matheson and others.

The ban will be in effect for seven days, unless it is extended by a vote of the Jasper City Council.

Violation of the burn ban is a class c misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00.

The ban was reportedly brought about due to the extremely dry conditions that have prevailed over the last few days, resulting in the high danger of fire.

UPDATE: The body of Trooper Chenault was found this morning in very shallow water in Lake Travis near Alligator Creek.

UPDATE: The body of Trooper Chenault was found this morning in very shallow water in Lake Travis near Alligator Creek.


He was found in the cove close to his home by a DPS diver.Search crews from multiple agencies agencies are looking for the body of a longtime Texas Department of Public Safety trooper assigned to the Capital Detail disappeared Monday evening at Lake Travis.Wesley Chenault, 50, went to go check his trot fishing lines around 5 p.m., according to DPS, and then didn’t answer phone calls later that evening. His wife found his boat on the opposite side of the trt line in a cove area of Lake Travis not far from their Spicewood Springs home on the western side of Lake Travis.Chenault is now presumed dead.Rescuers believe Monday evening’s thunderstorms may be a factor in Chenault’s disappearance.DPS helicopter and dive teams, Lower Colorado River Authority dive teams and Texas Parks and Recreation are searching the area.Early this morning DPS air support came into Montgomery County Airport to pick up a device for locating victims of drownings from First Response Outfitters in Willis.In addition Montgomery County Precinct 1 dive team members will leave in the morning to assist in the search.DPS trooper Robbie Barrera says Chenault had a passion for fishing. Chenault has been with DPS since 1986. He was assigned to the Texas State Capitol.

Early this morning DPS air support came into Montgomery County Airport to pick up a device for locating victims of drownings from First Response Outfitters in Willis.

In addition Montgomery County Precinct 1 dive team members will leave in the morning to assist in the search.

Travelers Warning For Falcon Lake, Texas

This is forwarded to you by the State of Texas State Operations Center (SOC).
Law enforcement agencies urging caution on Falcon Lake

Citing several armed robberies and attempted armed robberies on Falcon Lake in Zapata County, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office are strongly urging boaters on Falcon Lake to stay on the United States side of the lake and not venture into Mexican waters.

Three reported incidents since April 30 have raised concern among law enforcement officers in the Lake Falcon area. Two of the three incidents involved United States citizens who had gone into the Mexican side of the lake, passing the International Waters markers. Most of the incidents occurred in the Old Guerrero area, but it’s possible that other areas are a concern as well.

Fishermen are advised to stay as far away as possible from any of the Argos-type fishing boats typically used as fishing vessels by Mexican fishermen. These boats have a large prow, a small outboard motor without a cowling and no identification numbers on the hull.

Several bass fishing tournaments are scheduled for Falcon Lake during the next few weeks, and officials are concerned that they could be in danger if they cross into Mexican waters while they fish. One of the incidents occurred in U.S. waters.

This weekend, Zapata County Sheriff Sigi Gonzalez, will discuss these concerns with bass tournament participants. He has been working with Texas Parks and Wildlife regarding security matters on Falcon Lake. The DPS Border Security Operations Center and the Fusion Center are working with Zapata County and Parks and Wildlife to review protective measures in the area.

The robbers are believed to be members of a drug trafficking organization or members of an enforcer group linked to a drug trafficking organization who are heavily armed and using AK-47s or AR-15 rifles to threaten their victims. They appear to be using local Mexican fishermen to operate the boats to get close to American fishermen.

On April 30, five people in two different boats were fishing on Falcon Lake and went to the Old Guerrero area, where they were taking photos of the old church. While they were there, a boat with four heavily tattooed men approached the two boats quickly. The men identified themselves as “Federales,” but they were not wearing uniforms. The men boarded the boats, demanded cash and asked “where are the drugs?” The fishermen told the men that they had no drugs and were just fishing and taking photos. They ended up giving the men $200 cash and left the area. The pirates followed the two boats, but the U.S. boats were able to outrun them and the men stopped following once the two boats entered U.S. waters.

On May 6, three fishermen were about a quarter of a mile from Marker 14 on the north side of Salado Island on top of the ruins. As they were fishing, a boat with two men quickly approached and pointed AR-15s at the fishermen. One of the men boarded the boat and searched it, looking for drugs, cash and guns. During the incident, he chambered a round in the rifle and told the fishermen that he would shoot them if they did not give him money. The fishermen took money out of their wallets and gave it to them.

On May 16, law enforcement officers were told that some boaters were approached by a boat with five armed men on it. Investigators have not been able to locate the boaters to determine whether any cash was taken. This incident occurred on the United States side of the lake near Marker 7.

Anyone who is involved in an incident on Falcon Lake should dial 911 and report it to the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office.

To maximize safety, boaters should stay in U.S. waters on Falcon Lake and file a float plan. This means leaving a detailed note with family members telling the time and place of departure (boat ramp), destination and direction of travel, boater cell phone number if available, names of passengers and what they're wearing, and a description of the boater's vehicle and boat, including boat and vehicle license numbers.

The U.S. State Department website lists several travel alerts related to violence in Mexico. Travelers
should always check that website for the most up-to-date information related to security issues in Mexico. (See http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html).

Jack Colley, 1948 - 2010

Jack Colley, 1948 - 2010

Jack Colley, head of the DPS Texas Division of Emergency Management, died on May 16. Colley, 62, suffered a heart attack in early May.

“Jack Colley was a valuable member of the Texas Department of Public Safety and a national icon in the profession of Emergency Management,” said Steve McCraw, director of the DPS. “Jack was a great Texan, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”

At the state’s first-ever Texas Hurricane Conference in 2003, Colley summed up the philosophy that guided him during the many catastrophic events he oversaw on behalf of the State of Texas: “In disaster, the most important thing for you to know is that you are not alone.”

During his 12-plus years with the DPS, Colley was involved in the response and recovery to many of Texas’ largest incidents, disasters and emergencies, including the Space Shuttle Columbia crash (2003) and Hurricane Rita (2005) and Hurricane Ike (2008).

Colley coordinated the effort to shelter thousands of Katrina evacuees in 2005 and then led the monumental evacuation of more than 3 million Texas residents as Hurricane Rita threatened the southeast Texas coast only weeks later.

In 2008, the Texas Division of Emergency Management responded to six hurricanes and tropical storms within a 90-day period. These storms included Hurricane Dolly, which devastated the Lower Rio Grande Valley July 23 and Hurricane Ike, which washed over Galveston and the southeast Texas coast on Sept. 13.

Under Colley’s guidance, Texas led the nation in a number of initiatives to make disaster response “quicker, faster, smarter,” which included work on systems to improve tracking of special needs evacuees and improved processes for safe re-entry of evacuees after the storm.

Over the past year, DEM has focused on Re-Entry Task Forces to bring back security, restore infrastructure, provide mass care and start recovery within the first 72 hours after a storm. In an effort to speed deployment of resources to states struck by mega-disasters, Colley pushed for an Interstate Emergency Response Support Plan (IERSP) with Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma – the first of its kind in the nation.

“In times of crisis, Texas depended on Jack Colley for leadership and he rose to the occasion each and every time. That leadership will be sorely missed,” said Allan B. Polunsky, chairman of the Texas Public Safety Commission.

In the wake of Katrina in 2005, as it was learned that many people declined to evacuate if they could not bring their family pets, Colley began efforts to open evacuation and sheltering operations in Texas to include companion animals.

“A lot of jokes are made about it but it is simply not a joke. Nobody dies because they can’t bring their pet. This is Texas,” Colley once said.

Colley also served as the Assistant Director of the Texas Office of Homeland Security and was the State Administrative Agent for all Federal Homeland Security Programs within Texas. Colley was a member of the Governor's Homeland Security Council, the First Responder Advisory Council and the Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Protection Council. He was chair of the Texas Drought Preparedness Council.

Colley served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1997, retiring as a Colonel before joining DPS. He served in several positions of significant responsibility, including Chief Operations Officer for the Second Brigade and Headquarters, lst Cavalry Division and Division Chief for Strategic Planning for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Department of Defense. Colley was a graduate of the U. S. Army War College and the Command and General Staff College. Colley earned a bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University in Commerce and a master’s in business from Abilene Christian University.

Funeral arrangements are pending.







### (PIO 2010-50)

Jack Colley Death

I was notified today the Jack Colley had passed away. Jack was the Assistant Director of Emergency Management for the State of Texas.


Jack was a friend of Southeast Texas and the State of Texas. We will miss him and his leadership to the Emergency Management Program for the State.

Funeral arrangements are pending. I will notify you when those arrangement are final.

Please remember to pray for Jack's family.

Storm Spotter Class to be offered in Jasper on May 18th

Storm Spotter Class to be offered in Jasper on May 18th


05/10/10

KJAS

If you listen to a KJAS weather forecast when severe weather is predicted, you have probably heard the term "storm spotter" mentioned several times. Storm spotters are trained weather observers, and the National Weather Service routinely relies upon them when there is a possibility for hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.

If you are interested in becoming a trained storm spotter, the National Weather Service will be conducting a FREE class on storm spotting and hurricane preparedness on Tuesday, May 18th, 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. at the LoneStar Youth Community Center at 750 Burch Street in Jasper.

A lite lunch will be provided, and there will be an open question & answer session following the training class.

Although there is no cost to attend the class, you are asked to RSVP so that the instructors can be prepared with enough materials for each class member.

The class is being sponsored by Oceans Behavioral Hospital, and Stat Care EMS.

For more information, call 350-8781, 383-9904, or 384-2074

Stat Care purchased by Acadian - largest private EMS in the nation

From KJAS Radio - Jasper

Acadian Ambulance Service, the largest privately owned ambulance service in the country, announced on Friday that they have purchased locally based Stat Care EMS. Acadian, which began operating in Texas in 2006, says they plan to assume Stat Care’s operations in Jefferson, Hardin, Jasper, Sabine and Newton Counties on May 25th, with no interruption of service.

Acadian says they hope to hire all qualified medics and dispatchers from StatCare. Those who are hired will receive the same or, in many cases, higher salaries based on their years of service with Stat Care, according to Acadian Ambulance officials.

Acadian officials say they plan on upgrading and expanding Stat Care’s communications center to create a state-of-the-art emergency medical dispatch center. All of Acadian’s responses in Southeast Texas will be dispatched from the Beaumont center.

Additionally, Acadian says they plan on using only certified medical dispatchers trained to offer callers pre-arrival instructions, so they can begin helping patients before an ambulance arrives.

Jack Colley Suffers Heart Attack.

Please remember to keep Jack Colley (Assistant Director - Texas Division of Emergency Management) in your prayers. Jack suffered a heart attack while hospitalized for high fever. Jack has been sedated and awaiting evaluation by his doctors.


Jack is a friend of Emergency Managers. He is tough and a real fighter. We can help him in his fight by our prayers for him and his family

Southeast Texas Counties In Moderate Drought Level

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles said on Thursday that southeast Texas, and the entire state of Louisiana are now experiencing light to moderate drought conditions, with the southern portions of Jasper and Newton Counties in the moderate drought range.


Meanwhile, the typically dry areas of central and west Texas are - surprisingly - enjoying a wet spring with no drought conditions.

As of Thursday, the 2010 rainfall total in nearby Beaumont was nearly 6 inches below normal.

Fire danger is a by-product of drought conditions, and local firefighters have been very busy in recent weeks battling wildfires - most of which began as controlled burns that grew out of control.

Thanks to KJAS for their approval to publish this from their site.

Gulf Oil Spill Unified Command Briefing 4-5-2010

Today at 7:04pmThe Unified Area Command held a press briefing on May 5 on the continued efforts to attack and contain pollution on and below the surface surrounding the Deepwater Horizon incident. The briefing took place at 2:15 pm CDT in Robert, La. Speakers were Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Mary Landry, and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles.


Conference Highlights:

A fourth Incident Command Post was established in St. Petersburg, Fla. The other locations are in Mobile, Ala.; Houston, Texas; and Houma, La. The Unified Area Command is in Robert, La.

BP made $25 million block grants to the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi in order to accelerate the implementation of approved area contingency plans.

The containment system (cofferdam) is scheduled to be in place over one of the remaining leaks by Monday. Ships carrying the cofferdam infrastructure are sailing to the leak site today.

The cap recently secured over one of the oil leaks was accomplished by cutting off the end of the drill pipe where the leak occurred and placing a valve over it. This was conducted using a team of remotely operated vehicles.

Officials are discussing the use of subsea dispersants. Two test applications were conducted, with the second one finished last night. The results are being reviewed to determine whether this tool is feasible for future use.

Over the next 72 hours, the oil slick is not predicted to move significantly and changes will likely occur just along the fringes. Winds are predicted to move slowly south during this timeframe.