By Scott Harvey
Bonham – Fannin County's Hazard Mitigation Plan has been recognized as the gold standard by FEMA and the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
The County received the honor during the latest Commissioners' court meeting.
Emergency Management Coordinator Darrell Brewer says the plan took about six months of intense work with help from the Texoma Council of Governments.
Officials visited area communities to determine what types of hazards they face, and then began work on ways to respond to those disaster situations, including implementation of programs such as warning and shelter systems.
The County is now in a better position to pursue mitigation grants which could help in the creation of storm shelters, build levees, and more advanced warning systems.
Fannin County was among a section of Northeast Texas affected by a recent EF1 tornado that caused the most damage in Lamar and Red River counties.