A Whirlwind of a Start

Emergency management coordinator talks first six months.

In just over six months, city and county Emergency Management Coordinator Justin Calhoun has learned a lot by ensuring safety during Winter Storm Uri and COVID-19. — StandardRadio Post/Samuel Sutton

By Samuel Sutton Standard-Radio Post reporter

It’s only been just over six months, but Fredericksburg and Gillespie County’s new Emergency Management Coordinator has already attained an immense amount of experience.

From continuing to work through the COVID-19 pandemic and helping keep the community safe during an unprecedented February winter storm, Justin Calhoun has quickly learned how to protect the people he serves.

Talking about his duties during the storm, Calhoun said he worked with Fredericksburg Fire Chief Lynn Bizzell and EMS Director David Jung to make welfare checks and he worked with Central Texas Electric Cooperative and city departments to ensure utilities stayed on.

“It was definitely hectic and there was a lot going on initially,” he said. “We eventually got a routine on dealing with the situation each day. It did get better.”

Calhoun added his team is still working on recovery from the storm.

“Krista, from finance, and the county finance department are still working with (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to recover some funds during that time,” he said. “We worked really hard on it for probably a month to a month-and-ahalf, and afterwards, I wouldn’t say every day, but a lot of time spent on that.”

The team worked on an After-Action Report, which was published in the April 28 edition of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post, showing their performance, what they learned and what they’re working on to be better moving forward.

“We’re working on making some adjustments to the Emergency Operations Plan and the annexes that go with that, and we’re also looking at some things that can be fixed in the budget process,” Calhoun said. “The city and the county are in the budget process right now, so we’re working on some of those items to improve our response moving forward.”

While it was scary at times, Calhoun said his team is fortunate to have learned the lessons they did in such a short time.

“With me being new, I got to meet a whole lot of people in a very short time and that’s going to help us moving forward, now that I’ve made those connections,” he said.

COVID-19

The COVID-19 situation has begun to uptick locally, as Hill Country Memorial Hospital reported a 14% positivity rate on Tuesday, July 13. Calhoun said his team is still monitoring the situation.

“We’re still monitoring with those other variants out there, just making sure we don’t have any big spikes or anything,” he said.

Over the past year, residents have been voicing their displeasure about the City of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County still being in a State of Disaster. Calhoun explained why this is.

“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has continued to extend the statewide disaster declaration and, locally, we’ve done that,” he said. “The city and county have taken a unified approach on COVID throughout the whole pandemic and we just think it’s important.”

Keeping this disaster declaration allows the city and county to receive state resources in a timely fashion if the situation were to worsen, Calhoun said.

“At this time, talking with the judge and the mayor, it’s best just to leave it as is,” he said.

The city, county and Emergency Management continue to review the situation, but no timeline is set on the disaster declaration ending at this time.

“It’s going to have to settle down a lot in general,” he said “The disaster declaration has no effect on anyone right now. It just gives us the option to reach out for those state and federal resources.”

Testing is still being offered locally and, should someone need a test, they can call or text 830-383-4965.

Hill Country Memorial finished their vaccine campaign in June. Vaccines are now being distributed at local pharmacies. Where to find a vaccine is included here:

• H-E-B, 407 S. Adams Street –

Taking appointments and walk-ins from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Offering the Moderna and Pfizer vaccine for free.

• ValueMed, 707 N. Llano Street –

Taking appointments and walk-ins after lunch, from 1-5:30 p.m. They prefer people come in groups to avoid waste. Offering Moderna for free.

• Walgreens, 704 S. Adams Street

– Taking appointments and walkins from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They recommend calling first. Offering Pfizer for free.

• Walmart, 1435 E. Main Street –

Taking appointments and walk-ins Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Offering Moderna for free.