The Smith County Local Emergency Planning Committee held its quarterly meeting on Friday, June 5.

The Smith County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) recently held its quarterly meeting, bringing together emergency response agencies from across the East Texas region to discuss disaster preparedness and response efforts.

Guest speaker Mike Jones, Director of the Hays County Office of Emergency Services, shared insights from years of responding to flooding disasters in Central Texas. Jones discussed how Hays County has expanded its volunteer network to assist with disaster response and recovery efforts. Hays County includes the communities of San Marcos and Wimberley and is intersected by two major rivers, making flood preparedness a critical focus.

The committee also heard from Sean Henninger, Region 3 Incident Support Task Force Coordinator with the Texas Division of Emergency Management. Henninger outlined his role in recruiting, coordinating, and deploying first responders to assist communities across Texas during emergencies and natural disasters.

The Local Emergency Planning Committee serves as a collaborative partnership among emergency management, public safety, and community organizations dedicated to improving preparedness and response capabilities throughout the region.