Emergency Management Ready For Major Weather Events

McDonald County dodged a major ice storm bullet last week but local officials are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws their way this winter.

McDonald County Emergency Management Director Gregg Sweeten said planning for the potential impending weather took place early last week.

Sweeten had conference calls with National Weather Service staff members on Wednesday and Thursday. Meteorologists conveyed their confirmations of rain. The variable: where the arctic air would draw the freezing line. At one point, Sweeten said, NWS was calling for the heaviest ice just north of Highway 60. Then, the point was moved to north of Joplin.

Though the freezing line went even farther north, the rain here could have been a potential ice storm, Sweeten said.

"We definitely dodged that for sure," Sweeten said.

The McDonald County Office of Emergency Management Agency, headquartered in Pineville, is designed to prepare, protect and respond to residents of McDonald County before, during, and after an emergency.

In the event of an emergency, EMA coordinates actions of local and county agencies and develops the McDonald County Emergency Operations Plan.

Officials are prepared to respond to two different types of disasters: man made and natural. According to the agency's website, officials are prepared for man-made events such as technological emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, radiological, biological, and chemical emergencies, as well as large-scale criminal acts.

Natural disasters include major weather events.

Residents who want to stay informed of impending storms and weather conditions may sign up for an alert on their cell phone or email by texting the keyword "mcdonaldmo" to 888777. The service is free.

The office, located at 702 Main S., may be reached by calling (417) 223-7575, emailing [email protected] or visiting mcdonaldcountyema.org.

The agency is also found on Facebook at McDonald County Emergency Management.

General News on 01/18/2017