JACKSON STRIKES OUT ON OWN; DRAFTS FIRST EMERGENCY PLAN

After seven years of subscribing to Cape Girardeau County's emergency plan, Jackson leaders decided to strike out on their own.

Fire Chief Gary Niswonger, who doubles as Jackson's emergency operations coordinator, began work on the plan a year ago.

Following last summer's flood, aldermen were concerned about the city's response should disaster strike.

The chief's rough draft is finished, covering everything from food and shelter to public relations and mortuary plans.

Still, there are corrections and changes to be made.

"If we had an emergency today, the city could respond, but we have the potential to handle it better," Niswonger said.

In 1986, the Jackson Board of Aldermen voted simply to adopt the county's emergency plan for themselves.

While thorough, it doesn't consider Jackson's individual businesses and elected officials.

The county plan also indicates each city should do its own disaster preparation.

If Jackson wants financial reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency following a catastrophe, it has to have its own strategy.

Niswonger, who has 23 years in firefighting, attended seminars and studied emergency plans for other cities so he could develop Jackson's.

Alderman Dave Hitt later joined the effort, contributing his 17 years of experience in the National Guard, where he developed emergency programs.

Jackson's plan already is 2 inches thick, but Hitt said it isn't enough.

People in city government should know their responsibilities in a disaster.

Hitt and Niswonger said their goal was a plan so comprehensive, almost anyone could pick it up after a disaster and direct rescue workers.

"But it's a nightmare figuring out the logistics of this," Hitt said.

There is no set time for completion, but the men don't expect to see the plan finished this year.

They want time to contact area contractors and medical personnel and ask if they would lend their equipment or time to a massive rescue effort, should the need arise.

They also want to talk to Jackson city department heads about how their expertise could be used in a disaster.

Each major company in Jackson, too, will be asked about its disaster plans for employees.

Hitt said he hoped people would be receptive to questions about disaster plans.

The two remember past emergencies that put life in Jackson on hold, including two feet of snow in February 1979.

Because Jackson didn't have the equipment to move all the snow, the town pulled together, with farmers coming in to plow streets.

Motorists had to be pulled in to shelter off Interstate 55.

Last year, Jackson residents helped their less fortunate Cape Girardeau neighbors, providing thousands of sandbags.

About 700 people from inside and outside the Jackson area shoveled mix to protect nearby cities.

Hitt and Niswonger hope their fellow residents will show similar fortitude if anything else hits Jackson.