Kenneth Bell, Emergency Management Coordinator
smeoc@sanmarcostx.gov
630 E. Hopkins
San Marcos, Texas 78666
National Weather Service
City Information Line (recorded message): 512.393.8488
San Marcos Road Conditions-Public Services: 512.393.8036
Hays County Road Conditions
State Road Conditions: 800.452.9292
Electrical Outages - Electric Utility: 512.393.8313
Water/ Sewer Problems: 512.393.8010
During emergencies, tune to Cable Channel 10 on Time Warner and Channel 16 on Grande Communications for City of San Marcos announcements.
Useful links:
H1N1 Flu
Information About H1N1 Flu
Updated December 22, 2009
Health Department Opens H1N1 Vaccines to All
The Hays County Personal Health Department (PHD), following suggested Texas Department of State Health Services guidelines, is now offering the H1N1 vaccine to anyone who wants it.
The Hays County PHD recommends that persons check first with their usual health care provider about vaccine availability, as the PHD is considered a “safety net” for those who do not have a health care provider or who are uninsured or underinsured. There is a flu vaccine locator service available at www.TexasFlu.org to help locate providers with vaccine.
The Hays County PHD H1N1 vaccine clinic, located at 705 W. Hopkins St. (RR 12), Suite 112, in San Marcos, provides only the H1N1 flu vaccine – no other PHD services or vaccines are available there. Clinic hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The PHD also offers the vaccine during its monthly immunization clinic in Dripping Springs, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Precinct 4 Building, 195 Roger Hanks Pkwy. All PHD clinics are closed during County holidays. For more information about the H1N1 vaccination, contact the clinic at 512-393-5580.
December 14, 2009
Texas Responds to Pandemic Alert
On June 11th, the World Health Organization issued a declaration of Phase 6, Pandemic Alert in response to the global spread of the novel H1N1 flu. The pandemic declaration is the first to occur in the 21st century. To date, some 60,000 cases have been documented worldwide with 27,717 cases occurring in the United States. 127 people have died from H1N1, including at least ten in Texas. >> More
CDC Confirms 4 Hays County Cases
Hays County Courthouse, San Marcos, TX –June 2, 2009: The CDC has notified the Hays County Personal Health Department that it has confirmed four cases of H1N1 flu in Hays County that occurred in May. The affected residents are members of the same family, all children, who have subsequently recovered and were not hospitalized. The parents, who said the family had not traveled recently, also reported symptoms but are not confirmed as having had H1N1. >> More
Health Commissioner Urges Precautions as School Year Ends
May 27, 2009: Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner David Lakey, M.D., today urged students and their parents to continue to take precautions to reduce the risk of spreading H1N1 flu despite the end of the school year. >> More
Mayor Urges ‘Everyday Steps’ to Protect Against Flu
San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz urged residents to use “everyday steps” to protect themselves against the swine flu and said the City of San Marcos is working closely with local, state and federal agencies to monitor information about the outbreak.
“We encourage residents to follow recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to take everyday steps to protect your health,” Mayor Narvaiz said. The flu spreads person to person by touch, coughing and sneezing. >> More
Questions and Answers
Q. What is swine flu?
A. Swine flu is a respiratory illness in pigs caused by a virus. The swine flu virus routinely causes outbreaks in pigs but doesn't usually kill many of them.
Q. Can people get swine flu?
A. Swine flu viruses don't usually infect humans. There have been occasional cases, usually among people who've had direct contact with infected pigs, such as farm workers. "We've seen swine influenza in humans over the past several years, and in most cases, it's come from direct pig contact. This seems to be different," said Dr. Arnold Monto, a flu expert with the University of Michigan. 1 to 2 day incubation period (can go as high as 7 days).
Q. Can it spread among humans?
A. There have been cases of the virus spreading from human to human, probably in the same way as seasonal flu, through coughing and sneezing by infected people.
Q. What are the symptoms of swine flu?
A. The symptoms are similar to those of regular flu — fever, cough, fatigue, lack of appetite.
Q. Is the same swine flu virus making people sick in Mexico and the U.S.?
A. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the Mexican virus samples match the U.S. virus. The virus is a mix of human virus, bird virus from North America and pig viruses from North America, Europe and Asia.
Q. Are there drugs to treat swine flu in humans?
A. There are four different drugs approved in the U.S. to treat the flu, but the new virus has shown resistance to the two oldest. The CDC recommends the use of the flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.
Q. Does a regular flu shot protect against swine flu?
A. The seasonal flu vaccine used in the U.S. this year won't likely provide protection against the latest swine flu virus. There is a swine flu vaccine for pigs but not for humans.
Q. Should residents of California or Texas do anything special?
A. The CDC recommends routine precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases: wash your hands often, cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick, stay at home and limit contact with others.
Q. What about traveling to Mexico?
A. The CDC has not warned Americans against traveling to Mexico but advises that they be aware of the illnesses there and take precautions to protect against infections, like washing their hands.
Our Mission
To enhance the protection of the citizens of San Marcos and Hays County and the environment from hazardous materials incidents through planning, preparation and communication between citizens, business and government and to provide an avenue for the public to obtain information about the hazardous materials located in their communities.
If you’re the person responsible for RISK & SAFETY IN THE WORK PLACE, then you should be part of LEPC. E-mail us at smeoc@sanmarcostx.gov and we will contact you.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Hays County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. There are currently 4 teams covering all of Hays County.
Check out their web site at http://www.visitwimberley.com/cert/
Dedicated to establishing teams of local volunteer medical and public health professionals to contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need.
Contact the Hays County Public Health Office at:
www.health.co.hays.tx.us
.The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) coordinates the activities of volunteer, public and private agencies in all phases of emergency management (Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation). The OEM develops plans and exercises, and coordinates emergency management training for the City of San Marcos and allied agencies. The OEM obtains assistance and resources to accomplish their mission from federal, state, local and private agencies.
The Office is charged with assuring timely and adequate public warning of potential or imminent disaster events, and providing disaster-related safety information to the public and media. The OEM is on call on a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week basis.
The OEM also assists City, State, and Federal officials and their respective constituents with disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery programs. Because a close working relationship with elected officials is crucial to the success of our mission, the Agency serves as a repository of information concerning hazard identification and mitigation procedures. OEM also provides the public and media organizations with accurate and timely information regarding emergency management programs and issues in the City of San Marcos.
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