Emergency Operations Training

Recently I was able to attend a week-long training on emergency operations with our city's emergency operations director, Chief Jim Keith. This training was conducted by FEMA and took place at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, MD. 

The purpose of this training was to receive instruction and practical experience in the proper running of an emergency operations center (EOC). We received classroom instruction for several days and were then placed in a working EOC to run emergency scenarios for a simulated disaster(s) for a community. The training was intense and demonstrated the challenges that occur while trying to manage uncertain situations during an emergency. 

Washington City has had a written emergency operation plan for many years. As a staff, we practice aspects of the plan several times a year. During the last 10 years we have opened our EOC on a few occasions to deal with floods and power outages. Each year we try to improve upon the physical assets we need to properly deal with an emergency; this has included the purchases of mobile generator units, emergency supply pods, etc. 

Life safety and property protection are the most important roles for local government to take on. To do this effectively good planning and constant training are necessary. This aspect of good governance is a high priority for Washington City and its staff. 

Yourwashington.org

During our recent Cotton Days event the city introduced a new citizen interface platform called
"Yourwashington.org." This platform creates a one-stop shop for interfacing with your elected officials and city staff.

From this site you can connect with all of the ways the city communicates with you,
Including: Facebook, Twitter, Blogger. And you can communicate with the city by contacting your city councilmen, connecting to any surveys the city is conducting, asking a question, or generating ideas for the elected officials to consider.

This last feature called "Yourvoice" is a new feature which allows you to recommend or suggest an idea for the city to consider and vote on other ideas suggested. Through this process the city is hoping to hear your ideas and to see which ideas are most supported by the community. You will need to check this feature out.

As the name of this platform indicates, this is "Your Washington" and we hope you will take advantage of this simple way to influence, direct, and stay aware of all that is going on in your city.

YourWashington.org Launch Event at Cotton Days 2013

Covington Home

A year ago Washington City was fortunate enough to purchase the Robert Covington home, located at 200 N and 200 E. this home was one of the original homes built in Washington and was the residence of Robert Dockery Covington and his family. Mr. Covington was commissioned by Brigham Young to bring a group of pioneers down to this part of the state to homestead and establish a cotton crop and mill.

The home he resided in was also used as the city's first church, first city hall and the first community center. It is a rich and important part of our heritage here in Washington.

Although it will take several years to restore, the city has been enhancing and improving the grounds. We have allowed the city's Youth Council to use it for their weekly meetings and we eventually look forward to opening it up to the public to enjoy on a regular basis.

In the meantime and during Cotton Days week we encourage you to swing by and take a look at this beautiful part of our (your) history.