City updates emergency management plan

The Iowa Park City Council met in emergency session Monday and voted to accept the amended Wichita County Basic Emergency Management Plan regarding penalties.

In addition to Iowa Park, other cities in the county adhering to this plan include Burkburnett, Electra, Cashion and Pleasant Valley. “Each time the plan is revised, each governing body has to approve it,” City Manager Jerry Flemming explained.

During the regular meeting a resolution was passed declaring a local state of disaster for a public health emergency.

Mayor Ray Schultz is the Emergency Management Director for the city. On March 20 he declared a local state of disaster for public health that will continue for a period of days. The resolution approved by the council at this meeting extends the declaration until further notice. The resolution authorizes the city to take any actions necessary to promote health and suppress the virus, including the quarantine of persons and occupied structures, examining and regulating healthcare facilities, regulating ingress and egress from the city. regulating ingress and egress to occupied structures, establishment of quarantine stations, and other healthcare facilities, and ensuring compliance for those who do not comply with the city’s rules.

A local disaster declaration is required to obtain state and federal disaster recovery assistance.