This past Monday at the Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference in Biloxi, we began the educational sessions. Through my years on the MML education committee, I have always supported having classes on responding and recovering from a disaster. The presentation we had Monday morning provided details on the process for a federal declaration, planning before a disaster, and how to successfully recover from an event. I participated in a panel discussion with Amory Mayor Corey Glenn, Louisville Mayor Will Hill and Rolling Fork Mayor Eldridge Walker. Amory and Rolling Fork mayors had a lot of information regarding efforts to recover from a tornado, and Louisville mayor offered information about that municipality’s recovery efforts from a tornado almost a decade ago. The presenter at the forum was the Deputy Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Clayton French Jr. with an excellent presentation slideshow of the steps to responding and recovery. It was really informative on how the local emergency management agency documents damages through Crisis Track, which is the state documenting system.
Local officials work to get documentation along with pictures, coordinates, and a narrative in an effort to get a federal declaration.
During the forum, it was stressed many times that officials be prepared and know in times of disaster what they will need to do for recovery. Declarations of emergency that municipal and county governments sign off on are important. At the forum, I provided examples of them as part of our efforts to educate on the importance of the recovery process. A disaster can come in many ways, including flooding, severe thunderstorms, tornado and winter storm.
The Mississippi Municipal League offers different educational classes and seminars through their Certified Municipal Officials (CMO) Education Program, where elected officials earn credits and graduate to three different levels—basic, advanced and professional development. Participation is voluntary.
I am proud of the efforts made this past week with MML partnering with MEMA, and my having the chance to share the stage at the forum in Biloxi with those who have led through disasters and are continuing to do so.
Ken Strachan serves as the mayor of North Carrollton, is a member of the Mississippi Municipal League board of directors and serves as MML education chairman.
