Hey, good morning, Manascha. This is Mayor Austin Hammond. I just wanted to take a moment
to check in and see how folks are doing and also offer some updates. I want to start by
sharing that my heart goes out to you. And just I want to acknowledge how difficult the
last day has been for our community with the significant weather, the tornado that have
caused significant damage to private property to homes, public infrastructure, public spaces,
like our parks and local businesses. I just want you to know that my heart goes out to
you and I see you and I hear you and I just want you to know that I care and I care a
lot. And just wanted to start by acknowledging how difficult the last day has been shortly
after the storm came through yesterday. I and our team coordinated the EOC and started
gathering together to work towards organizing and coordinating with other municipalities,
the sheriff's office, county executives office, state agencies, nonprofits, businesses, anybody
and everybody to make sure that we are providing for our residents and working through this
difficult situation. At four PM yesterday, I also declared a local state of disaster
for the city of Manascha as pursuant to the city of Manascha code, which allows for it.
This is a very significant and serious situation and our staff has been working tirelessly
around the clock working through this. And we are working very closely with neighboring
municipalities and other agencies and established checkpoints within the city of Manascha to
make sure folks that are not from the city of Manascha are not coming in and to keep
our roads safe so our utilities can get worked on as there are many power lines down and
that our public works can work towards clearing the roads. But ultimately to make sure first
responders are able to get through safely to check in on residents. So I know it's probably
been frustrating with the checkpoints at different areas throughout the city, but folks that's
for your safety, all of our safety to make sure people that aren't supposed to be in
and might be interested in coming in the midst of a significant weather event like this don't
make sure first responders are able to get through effectively as well as first responders
from neighboring communities that are here to help. And that's another thing. I just want
to take a moment to acknowledge that there's been a lot of hardship and sacrifice that's
already happened within our community. But I'm asking as a neighbor, as mayor, that the
community comes together in partnership, and we look out for one another and we look for
opportunities to serve each other. And just that there's going to be difficulty and sacrifice
that needs to be had as the coming days and weeks continue and utilities work to get the
power back up and work through some logistics with our municipal water as we are relying on the
city of Nina for our water right now. Public works continues to work towards clearing our roads.
Other agencies are going to come in to help through mutual aid agreement and different things
like that. And like I said, we've been working very closely with the village of Fox crossing
city of Nina, went to Baco County County executive's office this year's department and building
very collaborative partnerships. I want to extend a huge thank you to everybody that has opened
their doors graciously for shelter or charging even if just temporarily during business hours.
It's made a world of difference. So our main shelter is at Christ the Rock Church.
Folks can pick up water at Pigly Wiggly in the city of Manascha. There's been remarkable
generosity with donating bottles of water. Catholic Revival Church also has a charging
station and a cooling station for people. I just want to say that I've been overwhelmed
with the generosity of our community and folks coming together to ask how they can help
their we are working with partnership Fox cities who will have a link to update and coordinate how
volunteer efforts can be made and donations and different things like that.
Folks just for updates, please continue to check official city of Manascha. Facebook pages,
the website, emergency management, the county just want to take this opportunity just as a
reminder. This is my personal Facebook. I will absolutely keep updating it and providing updates
throughout this, but this does not constitute a official city of Manascha outlet. My personal
page, but as mayor, I will do my best to keep you updated and share that pertinent and important
information as I always do. But Manascha, I know that things are incredibly difficult right now
and there's so much loss in this moment, but I just want you to know that I care and I see you
and we're going to get through this. It's going to be a difficult coming days and weeks,
but Manascha is a strong and resilient community and we will come out stronger at the end and I
know that it's hard to imagine that right now with all of the hardship that's going on. But
we will get through this together asking for your partnership. Let's look out for one another
in our neighbors and look for ways to help each other. Please adhere to guidelines that are being
put in place and rules. I know that there's been so much hardship already, but I really need you.
We need each other, whether it's a curfew getting established with us checkpoints. It's for everybody
safety and make sure we're moving in a good and positive direction. And
again, just want to extend my sincere thanks to the City of Manascha staff. We have remarkable
people that work for this community and are so blessed to have them. Thank you to our first
responders. Thank you to our local municipalities. Thank you to the business community and non-profits
and other agencies that have been reaching out to help our local electeds in the state legislature
and everywhere else that have been checking in. Thank you so much, Manascha. We will get
through this together. Praying for you, thinking of you, and I just want you to be
reminded that your city staff is working around the clock. We're working in shifts to make sure we
are working through the aftermath of the storm. So we will get through this.