Wapella will consider FEMA resolution
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WAPELLA — Nelson Thorp, with the Wapella Fire Department, on Tuesday, advised the village board to have its application on file in case it were to need federal disaster funds.
The board is required to adopt and sign a resolution establishing it would want to be considered for federal disaster aid if the area ever fell under a disaster declaration. Thorp provided the paperwork the village would need.
The Wapella Fire Department represented the village during meetings with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“I attended all of the meetings, so we are legally a part of that,” Thorp said. “This is the red tape in the middle of something you wouldn’t really want to be in the middle of if we had a disaster.”
Essentially, Thorp said that demonstrating the village is keeping up-to-date on federal regulations and making sure FEMA knows it want to participate in the program helps ensure Wapella would receive disaster aid in a timely fashion.
If FEMA is not aware the village is participating, it would severely delay federal help if needed.
The resolution signifies Wapella is participating in the mitigation plan put together by the DeWItt County Emergency Management Agency.
“Since 1968, there has been five (disaster) declarations for this county,” Thorp said.
In 1968, Wapella was hit by a tornado that caused major damage.
Thorp said if the board failed to adopt the resolution, “you’ll get shoved off because you didn’t do your due diligence, they call it.”
He also advised board members to complete all NIMS training (National Incident Management System), which sets forth protocols for preparedness, communications and information management, resource management and command and management under FEMA.
Training is computer based.
The FEMA programs includes requirements for events relating to natural disasters as well as human-made disasters, such as hazardous substance spills and nuclear emergencies.
The board plans to address the resolution at its August meeting.
