SCOTT CITY COMMITTEE TO STUDY DISASTER RELIEF

SCOTT CITY -- Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan established a special committee Monday to map out emergency weather procedures and a system to coordinate disaster relief.

"We were very fortunate that the storm system which hit the area Friday did not cause serious damage to the city," Forhan said. "But in its aftermath, I realized that Scott City does not have a policy in place for disaster situations."

The mayor asked that the chairpersons of the Police, Fire, Public Works and Administrative committees form a new committee for the purpose of disaster planning within the city. Forhan also wants the Scott City police and fire chiefs and the public works director to serve on the committee.

"When something like this (Friday's storm) happens, we need to have a plan of action," the mayor said. "We need to have a list of steps to follow, to coordinate and prioritize damage control."

Part of the committee's job would be to compile a list of phone numbers of relief agencies like the American Red Cross, the governor's office and medical-trained personnel who live within the city limits.

"Knowing where to call for help would be a tremendous first step in the cleanup effort," Forhan said.

When the earthquake scare of 1990 ran rampant throughout Southeast Missouri, Scott City formulated a plan for disaster relief. But it did not encompass other natural disasters such as tornadoes, floods or massive fires.

Ward 1 Councilwoman Brenda Moyers, who will serve on the new committee, suggested that it work to compile the names of area residents who have heavy equipment such as front-end loaders or backhoes.

A Scott City resident was praised by Forhan for donating the use of a front-end loader to the city for Friday's cleanup efforts.

"Without the help of that piece of equipment, we wouldn't have been able to move a lot of the trees, which were blocking roadways or had fallen into yards," Forhan said.

The mayor said residents who are still cleaning up from the storm can take downed tree limbs to the old city lagoon, where they will be disposed of by the Public Works Department.

In other business, Ward 2 Councilman John Rogers Jr. announced that the city's budget has been completed by the Finance Committee.

The council will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7:30 p.m. on June 21, a half-hour before its regular meeting.