Transition is opportunity to elevate programming, town manager says
BY MARTIAL HAPROV
EDITOR
Following a recent column in the Apple Valley Review, town officials are clearing the air on leadership of emergency operations and preparedness in Apple Valley.
“Our Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Joseph Ramos, is working very hard on behalf of the town in our emergency preparedness transition from management by the Fire District to management by the town,” Town Manager Frank Robinson said in a written statement last week.
The transition Robinson is referring to alludes to the town assuming control of emergency operations directions including programs that help prepare for local disasters and larger-scale emergencies, programs that in the recent past had been led by AVFPD.
Town Spokeswoman Kathie Martin said though the transition is ongoing, town staff is working to ensure the switch happens seamlessly and the Apple Valley Unified School District is lending its hand.
“While we haven’t held training exercises lately, we’ve been busy upgrading our foundation of preparedness,” Martin said by email. “The school district has established a new (Emergency Operations Center) location for us at their district headquarters. The town ran the phone lines and supplied radios.”
Martin noted that key personnel at the EOC “have not changed in years,” and it all remains a joint effort between the town and fire and school districts.
“The fire district, the school district and the town have been working closely together during this transition, (along with AVFPD Chief Sid) Hultquist, Superintendent (Tom) Hoegerman, and we see great opportunity to elevate our programming and are committed to emergency preparedness,” Robinson said.
Though Martin confirmed AVFPD laid off the person previously in charge of managing emergency prep operations, she said Ramos has been immersed in his own training over the last few months and meets with the Hultquist weekly.
Mayor Larry Cusack will preside over the next quarterly Disaster Council Meeting, Robinson said, planned for April 14.
Martial Haprov may be reached at 760-951-6236 or at mhaprov@vvdailypress.com.