JASPER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
P.O. BOX 2030
Office: 409-994-2543
BUNA, TEXAS
JASPER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING/AGENDA
In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, notice is hereby given of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners of Jasper County Emergency Services District #1, to be held at Jasper County Sub-Courthouse (33625 US Hwy 96 South) in Buna, Texas at 6:00 PM on October 6, 2011.
The following agenda items will be discussed, considered and action taken as appropriate:
1. Call to order and establish quorum
2. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last Regular meeting.
3. Treasurer’s Report
4. Public Comment (any individual may make presentation relevant to the business of the District of not more than 3 minutes to the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners, after executing the proper form, which may be obtained from the Secretary).
5. Discussion and possible action regarding new Senate Bill 917.
6. Review and approve payment of bills.
7. Discussion and possible action on Budget Amendments
8. Discussion and possible action regarding outside audit for District and Fire Department.
9. Report of Emergency Providers in the District.
10. Executive Session to discuss matters as authorized by Texas Government Code (see below)
11. Set date and time for next regular meeting
12. Any other business that may come properly before the meeting.
13. Adjournment
Note: The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of the meeting to discuss any of the matters listed above as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberation About Real Property), 551.073 (Deliberations about Gifts and Donations), 551.074 (Personnel Matters) and 551.076 (Deliberations about Security Devices).
Jasper County Emergency Services District #1 is committed to compliance with the Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call the District at 409-994-2543, for information. Hearing impaired or speech disabled persons equipped with telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the statewide Relay Texas Program, 1-800-2988.
Billy Ted Smith
Secretary/Commissioner
Jasper County ESD #1
Posted October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Things Are Different In Texas
Subject: THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN TEXAS
This is a great commentary on Texas folks vs Big govt.
Here are some stories about the Tricounty fire in Montgomery, Grimes, and Waller County.
My neighbor across the road has a sister named Kenna. Memorial Day, when she saw the huge column of smoke over our homes, she left a birthday party at my neighbor’s house to meet with her friend Tara at the Baseball complex in Magnolia. She called the owner of the complex and got permission to use the warehouse there as a staging area for donations for the fire fighting effort.
They put a notice out on facebook that they were going to be taking donations on their facebook pages. That night as they were setting up tables and organizing, News 2 Houston came by and saw the activity, investigated and left with the phone numbers and a list of suggested donations.
The facebook notice propagated faster than the fire. By dawn they had 20 volunteers, bins, forklifts, and donations were pouring in. I stopped by with my pitiful little bags of nasal wash and eye wash, and was amazed. There must have been 20 trucks in the lot, offloading cases of water, pallets of Gatorade , and people lined up out the door with sacks of beef jerky, baby wipes, underwear, socks, and you name it. School buses and trailers from many counties around were there offloading supplies, students froming living chains to pass stuff into the bins for transport to the command center and staging areas. If the firefighters had requested it, it was there. What do you give the guy out there fighting the fire that might engulf your home? Anything he or she wants. Including chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
Kenna moved on to the Unified Command Post at Magnolia West High school . She looked at what the fire fighters needed, and she made calls and set it up.
Mattress Mac donated 150 beds. Two class rooms turned into barracks kept quiet and dark for rest. The CEO of HEB donated 2 semi trailers full of supplies, and sent a mobile commercial kitchen at no charge to feed all the workers, but especially our firefighters, 3 hot meals a day. An impromptu commissary was set up, anything the firefighters had requested available at no charge.
As exhausted firefighters (most of them from local VFDs with no training or experience battling wildfires) and workers came into the school after long hours of hard labor, dehydrated, hungry, covered with soot and ash, they got what they needed. They were directed through the commissary, where they got soap, eye wash and nasal spray, candy, clean socks and underwear, and then were sent off to the school locker rooms for a shower. HEB then fed them a hot meal and they got 8 hours sleep in a barracks, then another hot meal, another pass through the commissary for supplies to carry with them out to lines, including gloves, safety glasses, dust masks and snacks, and back they went.
One of the imported crew from California came into Unified Command and asked where the FEMA Powerbars and water were. He was escorted to the commissary and started through the system. He was flabbergasted. He said FEMA never did it like this. Kenna replied, ”Well, this is the way we do it in Texas.”
Fire fighting equipment needed repair? The auto shop at the High School ran 24/7 with local mechanics volunteering, students, and the firefighters fixing the equipment.
Down one side of the school, the water tankers lined up at the fire hydrants and filled with water. Down the other side there was a steady parade of gasoline tankers filling trucks, dozers, tankers, cans, chain saws, and vehicles.
Mind you, all of this was set up by 2 Moms, Kenna and Tara, with a staff of 20 simple volunteers, most of them women who had sons, daughters, husbands, and friends on the fire lines. Someone always knew someone who could get what they needed- beds, mechanics, food, space. Local people using local connections to mobilize local resources made this happen. No government aid. No Trained Expert.
At one point the fire was less than a mile from the school, and everyone but hose volunteers were evacuated. The fire was turned.
The Red Cross came in, looked at what they were doing, and quietly went away to set up a fire victim relief center nearby. They said they couldn’t do it any better.
FEMA came in and told those volunteers and Kenna that they had to leave, FEMA was here now. Kenna told them she worked for the firefighters, not them. They were obnoxious, bossy, got in the way, and criticized everything. The volunteers refused to back down and kept doing their job, and doing it well. Next FEMA said the HEB supplies and kitchen had to go, that was blatant commercialism. Kenna said they stayed. They stayed. FEMA threw a wall eyed fit about chewing tobacco and cigarettes being available in the commissary area. Kenna told them the firefighters had requested it, and it was staying. It stayed. FEMA got very nasty and kept asking what organization these volunteers belonged to- and all the volunteers told them “Our community”. FEMA didn’t like that and demanded they make up a name for themselves. One mother remarked “They got me at my boiling point!” and suddenly the group was “212 Degrees”. FEMA’s contribution? They came in the next day with red shirts embroidered with “212 Degrees”, insisting the volunteers had to be identified, never realizing it was a slap in their face. Your tax dollars at work- labeling volunteers with useless shirts and getting in the way.
The upshot? A fire that the experts from California (for whom we are so grateful there are no words) said would take 2-3 weeks to get under control was 100% contained in 8 days. There was so much equipment and supplies donated, 3 container trucks are loaded with the excess to go and set up a similar relief center for the fire fighters in Bastrop. The local relief agencies have asked people to stop bringing in donations of clothing, food, household items, and pretty much everything else because they only have 60 displaced households to care for, and there is enough to supply hundreds. Again, excess is going to be shipped to Bastrop, where there are 1500 displaced households. Wish we could send Kenna, too, but she has to go back to her regular job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a great commentary on Texas folks vs Big govt.
Here are some stories about the Tricounty fire in Montgomery, Grimes, and Waller County.
My neighbor across the road has a sister named Kenna. Memorial Day, when she saw the huge column of smoke over our homes, she left a birthday party at my neighbor’s house to meet with her friend Tara at the Baseball complex in Magnolia. She called the owner of the complex and got permission to use the warehouse there as a staging area for donations for the fire fighting effort.
They put a notice out on facebook that they were going to be taking donations on their facebook pages. That night as they were setting up tables and organizing, News 2 Houston came by and saw the activity, investigated and left with the phone numbers and a list of suggested donations.
The facebook notice propagated faster than the fire. By dawn they had 20 volunteers, bins, forklifts, and donations were pouring in. I stopped by with my pitiful little bags of nasal wash and eye wash, and was amazed. There must have been 20 trucks in the lot, offloading cases of water, pallets of Gatorade , and people lined up out the door with sacks of beef jerky, baby wipes, underwear, socks, and you name it. School buses and trailers from many counties around were there offloading supplies, students froming living chains to pass stuff into the bins for transport to the command center and staging areas. If the firefighters had requested it, it was there. What do you give the guy out there fighting the fire that might engulf your home? Anything he or she wants. Including chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
Kenna moved on to the Unified Command Post at Magnolia West High school . She looked at what the fire fighters needed, and she made calls and set it up.
Mattress Mac donated 150 beds. Two class rooms turned into barracks kept quiet and dark for rest. The CEO of HEB donated 2 semi trailers full of supplies, and sent a mobile commercial kitchen at no charge to feed all the workers, but especially our firefighters, 3 hot meals a day. An impromptu commissary was set up, anything the firefighters had requested available at no charge.
As exhausted firefighters (most of them from local VFDs with no training or experience battling wildfires) and workers came into the school after long hours of hard labor, dehydrated, hungry, covered with soot and ash, they got what they needed. They were directed through the commissary, where they got soap, eye wash and nasal spray, candy, clean socks and underwear, and then were sent off to the school locker rooms for a shower. HEB then fed them a hot meal and they got 8 hours sleep in a barracks, then another hot meal, another pass through the commissary for supplies to carry with them out to lines, including gloves, safety glasses, dust masks and snacks, and back they went.
One of the imported crew from California came into Unified Command and asked where the FEMA Powerbars and water were. He was escorted to the commissary and started through the system. He was flabbergasted. He said FEMA never did it like this. Kenna replied, ”Well, this is the way we do it in Texas.”
Fire fighting equipment needed repair? The auto shop at the High School ran 24/7 with local mechanics volunteering, students, and the firefighters fixing the equipment.
Down one side of the school, the water tankers lined up at the fire hydrants and filled with water. Down the other side there was a steady parade of gasoline tankers filling trucks, dozers, tankers, cans, chain saws, and vehicles.
Mind you, all of this was set up by 2 Moms, Kenna and Tara, with a staff of 20 simple volunteers, most of them women who had sons, daughters, husbands, and friends on the fire lines. Someone always knew someone who could get what they needed- beds, mechanics, food, space. Local people using local connections to mobilize local resources made this happen. No government aid. No Trained Expert.
At one point the fire was less than a mile from the school, and everyone but hose volunteers were evacuated. The fire was turned.
The Red Cross came in, looked at what they were doing, and quietly went away to set up a fire victim relief center nearby. They said they couldn’t do it any better.
FEMA came in and told those volunteers and Kenna that they had to leave, FEMA was here now. Kenna told them she worked for the firefighters, not them. They were obnoxious, bossy, got in the way, and criticized everything. The volunteers refused to back down and kept doing their job, and doing it well. Next FEMA said the HEB supplies and kitchen had to go, that was blatant commercialism. Kenna said they stayed. They stayed. FEMA threw a wall eyed fit about chewing tobacco and cigarettes being available in the commissary area. Kenna told them the firefighters had requested it, and it was staying. It stayed. FEMA got very nasty and kept asking what organization these volunteers belonged to- and all the volunteers told them “Our community”. FEMA didn’t like that and demanded they make up a name for themselves. One mother remarked “They got me at my boiling point!” and suddenly the group was “212 Degrees”. FEMA’s contribution? They came in the next day with red shirts embroidered with “212 Degrees”, insisting the volunteers had to be identified, never realizing it was a slap in their face. Your tax dollars at work- labeling volunteers with useless shirts and getting in the way.
The upshot? A fire that the experts from California (for whom we are so grateful there are no words) said would take 2-3 weeks to get under control was 100% contained in 8 days. There was so much equipment and supplies donated, 3 container trucks are loaded with the excess to go and set up a similar relief center for the fire fighters in Bastrop. The local relief agencies have asked people to stop bringing in donations of clothing, food, household items, and pretty much everything else because they only have 60 displaced households to care for, and there is enough to supply hundreds. Again, excess is going to be shipped to Bastrop, where there are 1500 displaced households. Wish we could send Kenna, too, but she has to go back to her regular job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Citywide power outage planned for February
According to Tommy Boykin, City Manager, the City of Jasper will experience a planned power outage on Sunday February 13, 2011 from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Boykin said the outage is necessary due to a faulty main switch that must be replaced in the 138,000 volt Jason electrical substation on Milam Street.
Boykin said that there is simply no way to replace the switch without shutting off all power and that after considerable discussion it was decided that black out will take place on the Sunday evening while most people are asleep.
Boykin said that local citizens should remember that the outage will mean that all traffic lights, street lights and other lights will be out.
Boykin said that over the next few weeks residents, especially those with special needs should be making plans for the outage. However, he also said that the Jasper Fire Department, which has emergency power on Water Street will be open and would serve as a shelter for those who want to go there.
City officials have said that in the case of a hard freeze or cold weather, the outage will be postponed.
Boykin said the outage is necessary due to a faulty main switch that must be replaced in the 138,000 volt Jason electrical substation on Milam Street.
Boykin said that there is simply no way to replace the switch without shutting off all power and that after considerable discussion it was decided that black out will take place on the Sunday evening while most people are asleep.
Boykin said that local citizens should remember that the outage will mean that all traffic lights, street lights and other lights will be out.
Boykin said that over the next few weeks residents, especially those with special needs should be making plans for the outage. However, he also said that the Jasper Fire Department, which has emergency power on Water Street will be open and would serve as a shelter for those who want to go there.
City officials have said that in the case of a hard freeze or cold weather, the outage will be postponed.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ETMA January Meeting
The next meeting of the East Texas Mutual Aid Association will be held on Thursday January 20 at 7:00 PM.
The Evadale VFD will host this months meeting at their station on Hwy 105 in Evadale.
Please make your plans now to attend.
The Evadale VFD will host this months meeting at their station on Hwy 105 in Evadale.
Please make your plans now to attend.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Light Safety
Christmas lights are beautiful and much safer than candles, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Christmas lights can get hot enough to burn or ignite other decorations. The cords can fray, leading to a short. Decorating with lights often requires the use of a ladder, and improper use could lead to an injury. Practice ladder safety when you are putting up Christmas lights.
When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.
Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.
Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.
Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.
Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.
All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.
Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.
Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).
Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.
Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.
When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.
Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.
Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.
Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.
Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.
All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.
Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.
Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).
Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.
Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
ETMA AUGUST MEETING
Remember East Texas Mutual Aid Association meeting Thursday night 7:00 PM. This month's meeting hosted by Tri-Community VFD at Magnolia Springs.
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011
ESD#1 Will Meet Thursday October 6, 2011
JASPER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
P.O. BOX 2030
Office: 409-994-2543
BUNA, TEXAS
JASPER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING/AGENDA
In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, notice is hereby given of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners of Jasper County Emergency Services District #1, to be held at Jasper County Sub-Courthouse (33625 US Hwy 96 South) in Buna, Texas at 6:00 PM on October 6, 2011.
The following agenda items will be discussed, considered and action taken as appropriate:
1. Call to order and establish quorum
2. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last Regular meeting.
3. Treasurer’s Report
4. Public Comment (any individual may make presentation relevant to the business of the District of not more than 3 minutes to the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners, after executing the proper form, which may be obtained from the Secretary).
5. Discussion and possible action regarding new Senate Bill 917.
6. Review and approve payment of bills.
7. Discussion and possible action on Budget Amendments
8. Discussion and possible action regarding outside audit for District and Fire Department.
9. Report of Emergency Providers in the District.
10. Executive Session to discuss matters as authorized by Texas Government Code (see below)
11. Set date and time for next regular meeting
12. Any other business that may come properly before the meeting.
13. Adjournment
Note: The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of the meeting to discuss any of the matters listed above as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberation About Real Property), 551.073 (Deliberations about Gifts and Donations), 551.074 (Personnel Matters) and 551.076 (Deliberations about Security Devices).
Jasper County Emergency Services District #1 is committed to compliance with the Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call the District at 409-994-2543, for information. Hearing impaired or speech disabled persons equipped with telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the statewide Relay Texas Program, 1-800-2988.
Billy Ted Smith
Secretary/Commissioner
Jasper County ESD #1
Posted October 31, 2011
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
P.O. BOX 2030
Office: 409-994-2543
BUNA, TEXAS
JASPER COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT #1
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING/AGENDA
In compliance with the provisions of Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, notice is hereby given of a Regular Meeting of the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners of Jasper County Emergency Services District #1, to be held at Jasper County Sub-Courthouse (33625 US Hwy 96 South) in Buna, Texas at 6:00 PM on October 6, 2011.
The following agenda items will be discussed, considered and action taken as appropriate:
1. Call to order and establish quorum
2. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last Regular meeting.
3. Treasurer’s Report
4. Public Comment (any individual may make presentation relevant to the business of the District of not more than 3 minutes to the Board of Emergency Services Commissioners, after executing the proper form, which may be obtained from the Secretary).
5. Discussion and possible action regarding new Senate Bill 917.
6. Review and approve payment of bills.
7. Discussion and possible action on Budget Amendments
8. Discussion and possible action regarding outside audit for District and Fire Department.
9. Report of Emergency Providers in the District.
10. Executive Session to discuss matters as authorized by Texas Government Code (see below)
11. Set date and time for next regular meeting
12. Any other business that may come properly before the meeting.
13. Adjournment
Note: The Board of Commissioners reserves the right to adjourn into executive session at any time during the course of the meeting to discuss any of the matters listed above as authorized by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071 (Consultation with Attorney), 551.072 (Deliberation About Real Property), 551.073 (Deliberations about Gifts and Donations), 551.074 (Personnel Matters) and 551.076 (Deliberations about Security Devices).
Jasper County Emergency Services District #1 is committed to compliance with the Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Please call the District at 409-994-2543, for information. Hearing impaired or speech disabled persons equipped with telecommunication devices for the deaf may call the statewide Relay Texas Program, 1-800-2988.
Billy Ted Smith
Secretary/Commissioner
Jasper County ESD #1
Posted October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Things Are Different In Texas
Subject: THINGS ARE DIFFERENT IN TEXAS
This is a great commentary on Texas folks vs Big govt.
Here are some stories about the Tricounty fire in Montgomery, Grimes, and Waller County.
My neighbor across the road has a sister named Kenna. Memorial Day, when she saw the huge column of smoke over our homes, she left a birthday party at my neighbor’s house to meet with her friend Tara at the Baseball complex in Magnolia. She called the owner of the complex and got permission to use the warehouse there as a staging area for donations for the fire fighting effort.
They put a notice out on facebook that they were going to be taking donations on their facebook pages. That night as they were setting up tables and organizing, News 2 Houston came by and saw the activity, investigated and left with the phone numbers and a list of suggested donations.
The facebook notice propagated faster than the fire. By dawn they had 20 volunteers, bins, forklifts, and donations were pouring in. I stopped by with my pitiful little bags of nasal wash and eye wash, and was amazed. There must have been 20 trucks in the lot, offloading cases of water, pallets of Gatorade , and people lined up out the door with sacks of beef jerky, baby wipes, underwear, socks, and you name it. School buses and trailers from many counties around were there offloading supplies, students froming living chains to pass stuff into the bins for transport to the command center and staging areas. If the firefighters had requested it, it was there. What do you give the guy out there fighting the fire that might engulf your home? Anything he or she wants. Including chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
Kenna moved on to the Unified Command Post at Magnolia West High school . She looked at what the fire fighters needed, and she made calls and set it up.
Mattress Mac donated 150 beds. Two class rooms turned into barracks kept quiet and dark for rest. The CEO of HEB donated 2 semi trailers full of supplies, and sent a mobile commercial kitchen at no charge to feed all the workers, but especially our firefighters, 3 hot meals a day. An impromptu commissary was set up, anything the firefighters had requested available at no charge.
As exhausted firefighters (most of them from local VFDs with no training or experience battling wildfires) and workers came into the school after long hours of hard labor, dehydrated, hungry, covered with soot and ash, they got what they needed. They were directed through the commissary, where they got soap, eye wash and nasal spray, candy, clean socks and underwear, and then were sent off to the school locker rooms for a shower. HEB then fed them a hot meal and they got 8 hours sleep in a barracks, then another hot meal, another pass through the commissary for supplies to carry with them out to lines, including gloves, safety glasses, dust masks and snacks, and back they went.
One of the imported crew from California came into Unified Command and asked where the FEMA Powerbars and water were. He was escorted to the commissary and started through the system. He was flabbergasted. He said FEMA never did it like this. Kenna replied, ”Well, this is the way we do it in Texas.”
Fire fighting equipment needed repair? The auto shop at the High School ran 24/7 with local mechanics volunteering, students, and the firefighters fixing the equipment.
Down one side of the school, the water tankers lined up at the fire hydrants and filled with water. Down the other side there was a steady parade of gasoline tankers filling trucks, dozers, tankers, cans, chain saws, and vehicles.
Mind you, all of this was set up by 2 Moms, Kenna and Tara, with a staff of 20 simple volunteers, most of them women who had sons, daughters, husbands, and friends on the fire lines. Someone always knew someone who could get what they needed- beds, mechanics, food, space. Local people using local connections to mobilize local resources made this happen. No government aid. No Trained Expert.
At one point the fire was less than a mile from the school, and everyone but hose volunteers were evacuated. The fire was turned.
The Red Cross came in, looked at what they were doing, and quietly went away to set up a fire victim relief center nearby. They said they couldn’t do it any better.
FEMA came in and told those volunteers and Kenna that they had to leave, FEMA was here now. Kenna told them she worked for the firefighters, not them. They were obnoxious, bossy, got in the way, and criticized everything. The volunteers refused to back down and kept doing their job, and doing it well. Next FEMA said the HEB supplies and kitchen had to go, that was blatant commercialism. Kenna said they stayed. They stayed. FEMA threw a wall eyed fit about chewing tobacco and cigarettes being available in the commissary area. Kenna told them the firefighters had requested it, and it was staying. It stayed. FEMA got very nasty and kept asking what organization these volunteers belonged to- and all the volunteers told them “Our community”. FEMA didn’t like that and demanded they make up a name for themselves. One mother remarked “They got me at my boiling point!” and suddenly the group was “212 Degrees”. FEMA’s contribution? They came in the next day with red shirts embroidered with “212 Degrees”, insisting the volunteers had to be identified, never realizing it was a slap in their face. Your tax dollars at work- labeling volunteers with useless shirts and getting in the way.
The upshot? A fire that the experts from California (for whom we are so grateful there are no words) said would take 2-3 weeks to get under control was 100% contained in 8 days. There was so much equipment and supplies donated, 3 container trucks are loaded with the excess to go and set up a similar relief center for the fire fighters in Bastrop. The local relief agencies have asked people to stop bringing in donations of clothing, food, household items, and pretty much everything else because they only have 60 displaced households to care for, and there is enough to supply hundreds. Again, excess is going to be shipped to Bastrop, where there are 1500 displaced households. Wish we could send Kenna, too, but she has to go back to her regular job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a great commentary on Texas folks vs Big govt.
Here are some stories about the Tricounty fire in Montgomery, Grimes, and Waller County.
My neighbor across the road has a sister named Kenna. Memorial Day, when she saw the huge column of smoke over our homes, she left a birthday party at my neighbor’s house to meet with her friend Tara at the Baseball complex in Magnolia. She called the owner of the complex and got permission to use the warehouse there as a staging area for donations for the fire fighting effort.
They put a notice out on facebook that they were going to be taking donations on their facebook pages. That night as they were setting up tables and organizing, News 2 Houston came by and saw the activity, investigated and left with the phone numbers and a list of suggested donations.
The facebook notice propagated faster than the fire. By dawn they had 20 volunteers, bins, forklifts, and donations were pouring in. I stopped by with my pitiful little bags of nasal wash and eye wash, and was amazed. There must have been 20 trucks in the lot, offloading cases of water, pallets of Gatorade , and people lined up out the door with sacks of beef jerky, baby wipes, underwear, socks, and you name it. School buses and trailers from many counties around were there offloading supplies, students froming living chains to pass stuff into the bins for transport to the command center and staging areas. If the firefighters had requested it, it was there. What do you give the guy out there fighting the fire that might engulf your home? Anything he or she wants. Including chewing tobacco and cigarettes.
Kenna moved on to the Unified Command Post at Magnolia West High school . She looked at what the fire fighters needed, and she made calls and set it up.
Mattress Mac donated 150 beds. Two class rooms turned into barracks kept quiet and dark for rest. The CEO of HEB donated 2 semi trailers full of supplies, and sent a mobile commercial kitchen at no charge to feed all the workers, but especially our firefighters, 3 hot meals a day. An impromptu commissary was set up, anything the firefighters had requested available at no charge.
As exhausted firefighters (most of them from local VFDs with no training or experience battling wildfires) and workers came into the school after long hours of hard labor, dehydrated, hungry, covered with soot and ash, they got what they needed. They were directed through the commissary, where they got soap, eye wash and nasal spray, candy, clean socks and underwear, and then were sent off to the school locker rooms for a shower. HEB then fed them a hot meal and they got 8 hours sleep in a barracks, then another hot meal, another pass through the commissary for supplies to carry with them out to lines, including gloves, safety glasses, dust masks and snacks, and back they went.
One of the imported crew from California came into Unified Command and asked where the FEMA Powerbars and water were. He was escorted to the commissary and started through the system. He was flabbergasted. He said FEMA never did it like this. Kenna replied, ”Well, this is the way we do it in Texas.”
Fire fighting equipment needed repair? The auto shop at the High School ran 24/7 with local mechanics volunteering, students, and the firefighters fixing the equipment.
Down one side of the school, the water tankers lined up at the fire hydrants and filled with water. Down the other side there was a steady parade of gasoline tankers filling trucks, dozers, tankers, cans, chain saws, and vehicles.
Mind you, all of this was set up by 2 Moms, Kenna and Tara, with a staff of 20 simple volunteers, most of them women who had sons, daughters, husbands, and friends on the fire lines. Someone always knew someone who could get what they needed- beds, mechanics, food, space. Local people using local connections to mobilize local resources made this happen. No government aid. No Trained Expert.
At one point the fire was less than a mile from the school, and everyone but hose volunteers were evacuated. The fire was turned.
The Red Cross came in, looked at what they were doing, and quietly went away to set up a fire victim relief center nearby. They said they couldn’t do it any better.
FEMA came in and told those volunteers and Kenna that they had to leave, FEMA was here now. Kenna told them she worked for the firefighters, not them. They were obnoxious, bossy, got in the way, and criticized everything. The volunteers refused to back down and kept doing their job, and doing it well. Next FEMA said the HEB supplies and kitchen had to go, that was blatant commercialism. Kenna said they stayed. They stayed. FEMA threw a wall eyed fit about chewing tobacco and cigarettes being available in the commissary area. Kenna told them the firefighters had requested it, and it was staying. It stayed. FEMA got very nasty and kept asking what organization these volunteers belonged to- and all the volunteers told them “Our community”. FEMA didn’t like that and demanded they make up a name for themselves. One mother remarked “They got me at my boiling point!” and suddenly the group was “212 Degrees”. FEMA’s contribution? They came in the next day with red shirts embroidered with “212 Degrees”, insisting the volunteers had to be identified, never realizing it was a slap in their face. Your tax dollars at work- labeling volunteers with useless shirts and getting in the way.
The upshot? A fire that the experts from California (for whom we are so grateful there are no words) said would take 2-3 weeks to get under control was 100% contained in 8 days. There was so much equipment and supplies donated, 3 container trucks are loaded with the excess to go and set up a similar relief center for the fire fighters in Bastrop. The local relief agencies have asked people to stop bringing in donations of clothing, food, household items, and pretty much everything else because they only have 60 displaced households to care for, and there is enough to supply hundreds. Again, excess is going to be shipped to Bastrop, where there are 1500 displaced households. Wish we could send Kenna, too, but she has to go back to her regular job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Citywide power outage planned for February
According to Tommy Boykin, City Manager, the City of Jasper will experience a planned power outage on Sunday February 13, 2011 from 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Boykin said the outage is necessary due to a faulty main switch that must be replaced in the 138,000 volt Jason electrical substation on Milam Street.
Boykin said that there is simply no way to replace the switch without shutting off all power and that after considerable discussion it was decided that black out will take place on the Sunday evening while most people are asleep.
Boykin said that local citizens should remember that the outage will mean that all traffic lights, street lights and other lights will be out.
Boykin said that over the next few weeks residents, especially those with special needs should be making plans for the outage. However, he also said that the Jasper Fire Department, which has emergency power on Water Street will be open and would serve as a shelter for those who want to go there.
City officials have said that in the case of a hard freeze or cold weather, the outage will be postponed.
Boykin said the outage is necessary due to a faulty main switch that must be replaced in the 138,000 volt Jason electrical substation on Milam Street.
Boykin said that there is simply no way to replace the switch without shutting off all power and that after considerable discussion it was decided that black out will take place on the Sunday evening while most people are asleep.
Boykin said that local citizens should remember that the outage will mean that all traffic lights, street lights and other lights will be out.
Boykin said that over the next few weeks residents, especially those with special needs should be making plans for the outage. However, he also said that the Jasper Fire Department, which has emergency power on Water Street will be open and would serve as a shelter for those who want to go there.
City officials have said that in the case of a hard freeze or cold weather, the outage will be postponed.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
ETMA January Meeting
The next meeting of the East Texas Mutual Aid Association will be held on Thursday January 20 at 7:00 PM.
The Evadale VFD will host this months meeting at their station on Hwy 105 in Evadale.
Please make your plans now to attend.
The Evadale VFD will host this months meeting at their station on Hwy 105 in Evadale.
Please make your plans now to attend.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Light Safety
Christmas lights are beautiful and much safer than candles, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Christmas lights can get hot enough to burn or ignite other decorations. The cords can fray, leading to a short. Decorating with lights often requires the use of a ladder, and improper use could lead to an injury. Practice ladder safety when you are putting up Christmas lights.
When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.
Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.
Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.
Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.
Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.
All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.
Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.
Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).
Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.
Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.
When you put up Christmas lights this season - or holiday lights during any season - be sure to follow these Christmas light safety tips.
Choose Christmas lights that have been tested and deemed safe by a reputable testing laboratory, the best are UL or ETL. Christmas lights listed as safe by these laboratories will note that on the packaging.
Try to use the cooler-burning "mini" Christmas lights as opposed to the traditional larger bulbs. The older style burns much hotter.
Only use Christmas lights that have fuses in the plugs.
Inspect each set of Christmas lights - old or new - for damage. Return or throw out any set with cracked or broken sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections.
Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
Never hang Christmas lights on a metal tree. The tree can become charged with electricity and shock someone. The tree can also short out the Christmas lights and cause a fire.
Want Christmas lights outdoors? Use outdoor Christmas lights. The packaging will note whether the lights can be used indoors, outdoors, or both.
All outdoor electrical decorations should be plugged into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). You can buy portable units for outdoor use, or you can have them permanently installed by an electrician.
Use extension cords properly. Outdoor cords can be used inside or outside. Do not overload extension cords - they can get hot enough to burn.
Stay away from powerlines or feeder lines (these go from the pole to the house).
Secure outside Christmas lights with insulated holders (never use tacks or nails) or run strings of lights through hooks.
When you leave or go to bed at night, turn off your Christmas lights.
Never pull on a string of Christmas lights, it stresses the cords and can lead to fraying. Store Christmas lights loosely wrapped for the same reason.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
ETMA AUGUST MEETING
Remember East Texas Mutual Aid Association meeting Thursday night 7:00 PM. This month's meeting hosted by Tri-Community VFD at Magnolia Springs.
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