U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) recently hosted the first-ever Emergency Management Summit to help first responders in his district prepare for natural disasters that require federal assistance.
The summit featured testimony and potential response plans from local emergency managers, country fire marshals and federal agency representatives. A representative from the National Weather Service shared how integrated warning teams assist each other during natural disasters over a range of communication platforms.
The conference also featured a presentation from Grayson County Emergency Manager Sarah Somers, who discussed legal requirements for emergency managers when issuing emergency notifications to persons with disabilities.
“As Northeast Texans, we’re all too familiar with the destruction and devastation that can be wreaked by natural disasters and severe weather,” Ratcliffe said. “In fact, we’ve already faced four separate emergencies requiring federal aid since I’ve been in Congress. I’ve certainly been inspired by the resilience our communities have shown in the wake of the disasters we’ve faced, and I realize that this powerful endurance was enhanced by collaboration between volunteers, first responders and folks at all levels of government. The Emergency Management Summit allowed professionals from across the region to combine their experiences and expertise to ensure we’re as prepared as possible when the next emergency strikes.”