WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:05.280 Hey, good morning, Manascha. This is Mayor Austin Hammond. I just wanted to take a moment 00:05.280 --> 00:11.240 to check in and see how folks are doing and also offer some updates. I want to start by 00:11.240 --> 00:16.560 sharing that my heart goes out to you. And just I want to acknowledge how difficult the 00:16.560 --> 00:21.680 last day has been for our community with the significant weather, the tornado that have 00:21.760 --> 00:30.520 caused significant damage to private property to homes, public infrastructure, public spaces, 00:30.520 --> 00:34.880 like our parks and local businesses. I just want you to know that my heart goes out to 00:34.880 --> 00:39.480 you and I see you and I hear you and I just want you to know that I care and I care a 00:39.480 --> 00:47.200 lot. And just wanted to start by acknowledging how difficult the last day has been shortly 00:47.200 --> 00:53.560 after the storm came through yesterday. I and our team coordinated the EOC and started 00:53.560 --> 01:01.520 gathering together to work towards organizing and coordinating with other municipalities, 01:01.520 --> 01:10.600 the sheriff's office, county executives office, state agencies, nonprofits, businesses, anybody 01:10.600 --> 01:14.080 and everybody to make sure that we are providing for our residents and working through this 01:14.080 --> 01:21.200 difficult situation. At four PM yesterday, I also declared a local state of disaster 01:21.200 --> 01:29.560 for the city of Manascha as pursuant to the city of Manascha code, which allows for it. 01:29.560 --> 01:34.920 This is a very significant and serious situation and our staff has been working tirelessly 01:34.920 --> 01:41.960 around the clock working through this. And we are working very closely with neighboring 01:41.960 --> 01:48.040 municipalities and other agencies and established checkpoints within the city of Manascha to 01:48.040 --> 01:53.560 make sure folks that are not from the city of Manascha are not coming in and to keep 01:53.560 --> 02:00.880 our roads safe so our utilities can get worked on as there are many power lines down and 02:00.880 --> 02:05.840 that our public works can work towards clearing the roads. But ultimately to make sure first 02:05.840 --> 02:11.280 responders are able to get through safely to check in on residents. So I know it's probably 02:11.320 --> 02:17.800 been frustrating with the checkpoints at different areas throughout the city, but folks that's 02:17.800 --> 02:23.320 for your safety, all of our safety to make sure people that aren't supposed to be in 02:23.320 --> 02:29.360 and might be interested in coming in the midst of a significant weather event like this don't 02:29.360 --> 02:34.160 make sure first responders are able to get through effectively as well as first responders 02:34.160 --> 02:40.320 from neighboring communities that are here to help. And that's another thing. I just want 02:40.360 --> 02:45.720 to take a moment to acknowledge that there's been a lot of hardship and sacrifice that's 02:45.720 --> 02:53.640 already happened within our community. But I'm asking as a neighbor, as mayor, that the 02:53.640 --> 03:00.240 community comes together in partnership, and we look out for one another and we look for 03:00.240 --> 03:06.880 opportunities to serve each other. And just that there's going to be difficulty and sacrifice 03:06.960 --> 03:12.320 that needs to be had as the coming days and weeks continue and utilities work to get the 03:12.320 --> 03:20.560 power back up and work through some logistics with our municipal water as we are relying on the 03:20.560 --> 03:27.840 city of Nina for our water right now. Public works continues to work towards clearing our roads. 03:28.760 --> 03:34.760 Other agencies are going to come in to help through mutual aid agreement and different things 03:34.760 --> 03:39.880 like that. And like I said, we've been working very closely with the village of Fox crossing 03:39.880 --> 03:45.200 city of Nina, went to Baco County County executive's office this year's department and building 03:45.200 --> 03:51.560 very collaborative partnerships. I want to extend a huge thank you to everybody that has opened 03:51.560 --> 03:58.000 their doors graciously for shelter or charging even if just temporarily during business hours. 03:58.480 --> 04:03.040 It's made a world of difference. So our main shelter is at Christ the Rock Church. 04:04.480 --> 04:10.240 Folks can pick up water at Pigly Wiggly in the city of Manascha. There's been remarkable 04:10.240 --> 04:15.840 generosity with donating bottles of water. Catholic Revival Church also has a charging 04:15.840 --> 04:21.920 station and a cooling station for people. I just want to say that I've been overwhelmed 04:22.480 --> 04:26.480 with the generosity of our community and folks coming together to ask how they can help 04:27.360 --> 04:32.560 their we are working with partnership Fox cities who will have a link to update and coordinate how 04:33.680 --> 04:36.960 volunteer efforts can be made and donations and different things like that. 04:38.000 --> 04:42.880 Folks just for updates, please continue to check official city of Manascha. Facebook pages, 04:44.400 --> 04:50.080 the website, emergency management, the county just want to take this opportunity just as a 04:51.040 --> 04:56.800 reminder. This is my personal Facebook. I will absolutely keep updating it and providing updates 04:56.800 --> 05:04.240 throughout this, but this does not constitute a official city of Manascha outlet. My personal 05:04.240 --> 05:10.560 page, but as mayor, I will do my best to keep you updated and share that pertinent and important 05:10.560 --> 05:16.480 information as I always do. But Manascha, I know that things are incredibly difficult right now 05:17.440 --> 05:25.360 and there's so much loss in this moment, but I just want you to know that I care and I see you 05:26.000 --> 05:30.480 and we're going to get through this. It's going to be a difficult coming days and weeks, 05:31.360 --> 05:37.360 but Manascha is a strong and resilient community and we will come out stronger at the end and I 05:37.360 --> 05:42.400 know that it's hard to imagine that right now with all of the hardship that's going on. But 05:42.400 --> 05:47.040 we will get through this together asking for your partnership. Let's look out for one another 05:47.040 --> 05:54.960 in our neighbors and look for ways to help each other. Please adhere to guidelines that are being 05:54.960 --> 06:00.720 put in place and rules. I know that there's been so much hardship already, but I really need you. 06:00.720 --> 06:08.080 We need each other, whether it's a curfew getting established with us checkpoints. It's for everybody 06:08.080 --> 06:11.280 safety and make sure we're moving in a good and positive direction. And 06:12.240 --> 06:18.320 again, just want to extend my sincere thanks to the City of Manascha staff. We have remarkable 06:18.320 --> 06:23.360 people that work for this community and are so blessed to have them. Thank you to our first 06:23.360 --> 06:28.640 responders. Thank you to our local municipalities. Thank you to the business community and non-profits 06:28.640 --> 06:36.320 and other agencies that have been reaching out to help our local electeds in the state legislature 06:36.320 --> 06:41.440 and everywhere else that have been checking in. Thank you so much, Manascha. We will get 06:41.440 --> 06:47.840 through this together. Praying for you, thinking of you, and I just want you to be 06:50.080 --> 06:55.040 reminded that your city staff is working around the clock. We're working in shifts to make sure we 06:55.040 --> 06:59.920 are working through the aftermath of the storm. So we will get through this.