A new emergency preparedness initiative planning session was held recently to help residents of public housing in Calhoun County be better-prepared to create emergency plans for themselves and their families. Representatives of Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, housing authorities in Anniston and Jacksonville, and Alabama Public Health Department took part in the planning session. The meeting was hosted by Metro Services LLC, which manages the county’s Special-Needs Population Program. The initiative will be funded through the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. It will offer information about planning for severe weather, man-made hazards, health issues, as well as a chemical incident.

Participants at the session included Shay Cook, Calhoun County EMA public information officer; Dan Long, Calhoun County EMA director; Teri Odon, Section 8 coordinator; Stacy Fagan, housing manager; Kevin Fowler; interim executive director of Anniston Housing Authority; Cindy Newson, Jacksonville Housing Authority; Debbie Blevins, Calhoun County EMA planner; Sharon Dunson, housing manager; Geraldine Alen, director of operations of Anniston Housing Authority; Connie Wheeler, Jacksonville Housing Authority manager; Vanda Holt, Metro Services LLC CEO; Patricia Surrett, program manager for Metro Services; Jason Alldredge, Calhoun County EMA planner; and Maury West with the Alabama Department of Public Health.