The city of Hutto withdrew from the Williamson County Emergency Management Program following City Council’s vote at its Jan. 23 meeting. The city will instead rely on its own program.

The details

The Hutto Department of Emergency Management helps promote safety and city resiliency in emergency events like winter storms, road closures and natural disasters. The department can still collaborate with the county and request resources if needed, Emergency Management Coordinator Jake Isbell said.

"We're acting as our own independent program, versus being written into their plan and under their staff or personnel," Isbell said.

Some context

Hutto passed a resolution in 2017 to join Williamson County’s Emergency Management Program, which also includes several other cities in the county. The program serves cities who wish to leverage resources from the county and benefit from using a shared emergency management coordinator.

The city’s partnership with Williamson County for emergency management included gathering community input and holding public meetings for potential disaster planning, communicating with residents during emergencies and sharing resources for hazard management.

"This [county] program is really designed for cities who aren't at the spot in their history that can invest and adequately supply resources for an emergency management program and need that additional assistance," Isbell said.

What they're saying

"I think it speaks volumes to say that we are in a position now where we can stand on our own emergency management wise," Place 5 Council Member Peter Gordon said at the meeting. "We don't depend on the county and we're taking care of our citizens."