Hupp ready to go if called
By PAMELA BRUSTPARKERSBURG - Wood County Emergency Management Director Ed Hupp stands ready to help hurricane-stricken disaster sites.
Hupp asked county commissioners Thursday for permission to pack up and head out to areas that may need disaster assistance as they are bombarded with floods and other weather-related emergencies.
"The Emergency Management system has an agreement with all the states, it's like an exchange program. When someone needs help they just put out a request. For instance, Louisiana was recently asking for additional law enforcement officers to help out because they are strapped down there. As emergency services director here, I receive daily updates and if a request comes out, I wanted to make sure I had commission approval to respond. Emergency management officials really stress no one should self-deploy, we wait to be notified and the specific entities needed can then respond," Hupp said.
The host entity putting out the request for help absorbs the expenses of the officials responding, according to Hupp.
"It would probably be a maximum of two weeks if we were called out. But they have three storms/hurricanes stacked up right now and no one knows what's going to happen, so I wanted to be ready," Hupp said.
"I'm for it, if we can help someone who needs it, why would we stand in the way?" Commissioner Blair Couch commented.
"My only concern is if we would suffer some after effects of the storms and you were needed here," Commissioner Rick Modesitt said.
"I wouldn't go if there were any chance I would be needed here," Hupp said. "Since Katrina, everyone, from the locals to the feds, have been very proactive in preparing. The West Virginia directors have participated in conference calls to discuss possible problems we might be facing."
If Hupp would leave the area, Dewayne Jones, who serves as deputy emergency service director, would be in charge.
