CALHOUN COUNTY EMA PLUS

He also announced that the Department of Economic Opportunity will be working with local community action agencies to provide $6.1 million to families to help get them back on their feet through community service block grants and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs. So please heed that call,” DeSantis said. But if they’re doing that, that’s because they fear a risk of injury, property damage or death for an individual. It’s not good for people generally, we understand that.

“Nobody wants to tell someone to leave their home. He also asked Calhoun County residents to listen for local evacuation orders and follow the direction of local emergency personnel and leaders. A state of emergency has been declared in Bay, Calhoun and Gulf counties.Īt a Tuesday news conference, DeSantis said emergency services have been able to keep the wildfires from destroying all but two homes so far, but that conditions the past few days have allowed the fire to continue to grow.ĭeSantis warned motorists that smoke from the fire and fog may limit visibility on roads in the Panhandle Tuesday night. Since the fires began six days ago, the flames are now covering almost 30,000 acres, mostly along the path that Hurricane Michael took in the area in 2018. Ron DeSantis has announced some areas of Calhoun County are being evacuated because of three wildfires in Florida’s Panhandle. Check out our most recent reportingon the Panhandle wildfires and evacuations. Two days after this story was originally posted, Jamie Norris, interim director of Calhoun County Emergency Management, informed Florida Politics that no evacuations took place in Calhoun County, despite reports from the Florida Forest Service. “I appreciate (the Calhoun County Commission) putting their confidence in me,” he said.UPDATE: All evacuations have been lifted. The position in Calhoun County came open when Jonathon Gaddy, CCEMA director since 2011, was named assistant director of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.īarton said the interview process spanned about 10 weeks, and he knows there were a number of well-qualified, well-respected applicants for the job. “I’ll be coming in to help with the ongoing recovery process here,” Barton said, adding that he looks forward to the opportunity to work with a number of different agencies. The CCEMA staff is “battle-seasoned” he said, after dealing with the damage done to the JSU campus and surrounding community when tornadoes struck the area in March. He was licensed in emergency medical services, and during his time in college worked with a nonprofit in disaster relief.Ĭalhoun County brings some unique challenges, he said, with the Anniston Army Depot, what remains at Fort McClellan and the Jacksonville State University campus within its boundaries, and Interstate 20 running through the county. Prior to becoming chief deputy, Barton was chief of the Coates Bend Volunteer Fire Department and remained a member as he served in the sheriff’s office.

CALHOUN COUNTY EMA PLUS

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said, of the change in positions.īarton has spent the last 13 years in public safety and he said that experience, plus his prior experience, will be assets in his new role. A member of the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office leadership team will be leaving for a new position in Calhoun County next month.Ĭhief Deputy Michael Barton on Thursday was appointed director of the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency by the Calhoun County Commission.īarton said his first day in the new job will be Nov.

Calhoun county ema