Emergency Management
Report Storm Damage from July 23, 2024
Using this Individual Post-Damage Assessment ToolIndividuals affected by the recent storm surge are encouraged to visit the Texas Division of Emergency Management website and complete the self-reporting assessment tool. Access the site by either scanning the QR code below or using the following link: damage.tdem.texas.gov.
William B. "Dub" Thomas
Emergency Management CoordinatorWilliam B. "Dub" Thomas earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice and police science in 1982 from Sam Houston State University. He also is a graduate of Northwestern University Traffic Institute School of Police Staff and Command.
He worked for the Texas Department of Public Safety, serving in the Highway Patrol service from 1985 until 2010, when he retired as a patrol lieutenant, During his tenure, he was responsible for 7 sergeant areas, which included 70 troopers, 6 K-9 officers, administrative staff, presidential security at the western Whitehouse, and as an instructor of radar and laser use as well as recruit school.
Throughout his career, Thomas' duty stations included Freer, Hillsboro, San Angelo, El Paso and Waco.
While stationed in El Paso, Thomas was the DPS District Disaster Chairman for Region 4A. And, while stationed in Waco, he was the DPS Assistant District Disaster Chair for Region 6A. In those positions, he was responsible for state responses to disasters in those respective districts. In Region 6A, he was responsible for the state response to the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and Hurricane Katrina. He also was deployed to the Beaumont district office to coordinate the state response to Hurricanes Rita and Ike. Additionally, he participated in numerous disaster drills in conjunction with the Comanche Peak nuclear facility.
From early 2014 through the fall of 2015, he was the disaster program specialist for the Hill Country Chapter of the American Red Cross. As such, he was responsible for the implementation of American Red Cross initiatives in the chapter's 18 counties, as well as assisted those areas with preparedness, response and recovery plans and operations during disasters.
Thomas has served as the Kerr County Emergency Management Coordinator since November 2015.
Kerr County Emergency Management works in every season to make sure this county is prepared for fire, flood, freeze or other emergencies.
To view the Kerr County Emergency Management page on the sheriff's website, click HERE.
The main duties of the Emergency Management office:
Protects the residents and visitors to Kerr County
Keeps the Basic Emergency Management Plan, all 22 annexes, and the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan up to date.
Coordinates local efforts in disaster response.
Works with state and federal officials when responding to disaster events.
Educates the public in how to prepare for disasters.
Works to build community resilience to disasters through the 4 phases of emergency management: Prepare, Respond, Recover, Mitigate
400 Clearwater Paseo
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Phone: 830-315-2430
Fax: 830-315-2481
Hours of Operation:
Mondays - Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
OPEN during lunch
Online Resources
- DIAL 911 FOR EMERGENCIES -
CODE RED Emergency Notifications
Kerr County has implemented an Emergency Notification system named CODE RED.
If you would like to be notified of an emergency situation effecting your Kerr County business or residence you should sign up for this system. The information will only be used for emergency notification purposes.
Questions should be directed to the Kerr County Sheriff's Office at (830)896-1216.
Click HERE to sign up for free!
With the CodeRed Emergency Notification System the County of Kerr now has the ability to notify the entire county or only the affected areas of the county about emergency situations in a matter of minutes.
The CodeRED system delivers pre-recorded emergency telephone messages, such as during instances of severe weather, wildfires, hazardous materials emergencies, drinking water contamination and other emergency situations where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety.
Code Red is available for using an Android or Apple iPad/iPhone app.
CERT
KERR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE CERT
Kerr County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a volunteer group that will work to assist and support the Kerr County Sheriff's Office. This group consists of graduates from the Kerr County Sheriff's Office Citizen's Academy and who have received the 20-hour basic CERT training class. This group will also attend in-service training periodically to stay up-to-date on the knowledge acquired during this training.
CERT squad members may be activated to support emergency or disaster operations, as directed, by the sheriff or his designee. CERT volunteers will be allowed to assist the Kerr County Sheriff's Office as a force multiplier of manpower during training exercises, community outreach, emergencies, man-made or natural disasters, light search and rescue efforts, lost child searches, debris clearance, scene security, logistical support, communications and administrative support.
The Kerr County CERT team works to support the Kerr County Sheriff's Office, the Kerrville Police Department, Ingram Police Department, and Kerr County volunteer fire departments, among others.
CAPABILITIES & TRAINING
Since January 2016, we have engaged in the following training and exercises:
Light search and rescue
Trained to the NASAR standards for loose grid/evidence search
Shelter fundamentals with exercise
Disaster mental health
Web emergency operations center
Disaster assessment with exercise
Kerr County/City of Kerrville/Peterson Regional Hospital full-scale exercise
Radio communications
Smoke detector installations
Disaster medical operation
Disaster preparedness
Introduction to lost persons search