AGGRESSIVE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS ENVISIONED

Presiding Commissioner Gerald Jones said he wants Cape Girardeau County's emergency management office to be even more aggressive in preparing for the worst.

Commissioners met Thursday with David Hitt, newly-appointed coordinator of the office, and Martha Vandivort, deputy coordinator. Both were hired March 18.

"We need to look at, How can we make it better? What can we do as a group to make it better?" Jones said.

Several emergency preparedness courses are offered around the nation at no cost, and it is important that officials from throughout Cape County get up-to-date training, he said.

Hitt said staff will be updating the county's disaster plans to include listings of available shelters and services. "We need an annual review of those" plans, he said.

Hitt also said he plans to meet with "those people who have a designated responsibility, and give you some information." The plan designates county officials to take on certain roles -- such as public information officer -- in the event of a disaster, and those individuals need to know what those responsibilities entail.

Hitt will be resigning his post on the county parks board and will join the countywide 911 board.

Jones said Hitt's position on the Jackson Board of Aldermen is "no conflict of interest" with his new county post.