Governor Nixon has hiked the readiness level of state agencies that are responding or will respond to the continued heat and drought. The governor had told state agencies at the end of June to get ready to respond to emergency requests. Now he’s declared a state of emergency exists. He’s ordered the activation of the state’s emergency operations plan.
Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O’Connell says agencies now can provide direct assistance to local communities—and provide it quickly. .
AUDIO: O’Connell :31
O’Connell says the role of the State Emergency Management Agency is to coordinate efforts between local governments, state agencies, and the federal government to provide direct aid.
No requests have come in but he says the agency is ready to respond quickly when they do.