Hays shares award for its emergency management

Accepting the award were (left) Chief Deputy Jamie Page and (right) Animal Control Officer Brian Roch of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office. EMAT President Sharon Nalls (center) presented the award. Sgt. Frank Cheatham of the Animal Control Division and Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator Kharley Smith also attended. (Submitted photo)

Hays County’s Emergency Management Program has been named a winner, along with Travis and Williamson counties, of the Texas Emergency Management Association’s (EMAT) Excellence in Emergency Management award.
Hays, Travis and Williamson counties coordinated on developing a tri-county Animal Issues Plan to provide direction for the sheltering and rescue of animals during emergency situations.
“Emergency planners and animal control officers from the tri-county area worked closely together to develop the plan, and we appreciate the recognition from EMAT for our hard work in serving all of our citizens,” Hays County Emergency Management Coordinator Kharley Smith said.
“During an emergency, people are concerned about their pets and livestock and need to know that they will be taken care of to the best of our ability during a crisis situation,” Smith said. “This plan allows us to act regionally and use resources available to both governments and private industries.”
One component of the plan that is still in development is the creation of a Hays County CART (Community Animal Rescue Team) program that intends to involve Animal Control Officers, local veterinary professionals, livestock groups, public safety and animal shelter personnel and citizen volunteers.
CART members will be trained in animal rescue techniques and available to deploy throughout the county in the event of a disaster situation.
The Excellence in Emergency Management Award was presented at the EMAT awards banquet in San Marcos in February.
For more information about emergency management in Hays County, visit www.co.hays.tx.us and choose Emergency Management from the Government dropdown tab at the top of the page.