Emergency Management director outlines shelter plans and mutual‑aid status

Emergency Management Director Makenna Haas reported to the Cloud County Board of Commissioners that all in‑county mutual aid agreements are signed and that she is advancing several preparedness steps for severe weather and other incidents.

Haas described storm‑shelter planning across the county, said Chemical Dependency will be installing Norcan boxes intended for overdose response, and said the county intends to purchase handheld wind meters to support storm assessment and response. She said she will attend an Infrastructure Hub meeting in Hays this week to coordinate regional planning.

Haas also said she will seek Mitchell County’s burn‑ban rules at the board’s request so the commissioners can review whether the county needs to change its local rules. The board agreed to place an ad for an unpaid intern to support Emergency Management work, and Haas reported that she has contacted the Red Cross and will consult the county Health Department on housing options in the event of a disaster.

The emergency‑management reports were delivered as part of routine staff updates; no formal action or votes were recorded on any of the preparedness items during the April 27 meeting. The board did not set a follow‑up date in the minutes for the shelter or burn‑ban items.