Travis County Commissioners Court
March 9, 2010,
Item 3
We do have a lot of people here on item number 3 so why don't we try to take it first and get it done.
3 is to approve proclamation recognizing emergency response personnel and brave citizens of Travis County for their service on February 18, 2010 in respoons to events at the echelon office building.
and for the rest of the audience I will call up citizens communication next, then we'll go to the public hearings one and two.
>> good morning, judge Biscoe and fellow Commissioners.
i'm donny hobbe with emergency services.
indeed it's an honor to be among these folks today that we're doing to pay tribute to.
on Thursday morning, February 18 2010, our community experienced an event that will long be remembered as a day of the tragedy and sadness.
this morning our hearts and our thoughts continue toward the hunter family for the loss of their loved one vernon.
shane hill, the injuries he sustained and others that may have been affected or injured.
also we want to think about the echelon employees and what they must continue to go through as a result of this event.
i would like to add that our thoughts also need to go toward the stack family with their loss and their difficulties.
this day will also be remembered as a day lives were provided quick response and help from both experienced emergency service professionals, individual citizens, and dedicated personnel in the workplace.
it is with great pride that I present to you these agencies and individuals who participated that morning with their deep seated personnel pride and commitment to help those in their greatest hour of need.
each demonstrated their casual you will side but disciplined inside but doing what was necessary to allow safe passage to those in difficult circumstances.
someone described bigness and caring unconditionally and helping unassumingly.
their bigness was displayed for the world the see and witness on February 18.
i will now ask Commissioner Eckhardt and Commissioner Huber to read a proclamation from the court.
>> I'm going to start.
first I want to say how awesomely proud I am of the combined effort of these response teams in keeping what is a tragedy from being worse than it was.
i'm going to read the Travis County Commissioners court proclamation on the day when tragedy provided the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of our first responders, all emergency response personnel stepped forward.
federal, state, city, and county.
on February 18, 2010, in Austin, Texas, a private plane was intentionally flown into the echelon two, a seven-story office building.
it was greatly feared that the citizens of Travis County would long be speaking of a great tragedy regarding that day.
due to the actions of Travis County and the city of Austin emergency personnel, February 18 2010, will long be referred to as a day of miracles, a day when tragedy occurred but resulted in a minimum of injuries and few deaths due to the action of the Travis County and city of Austin first responders who went to the smoke to rescue their fellow citizens.
whereas on that day, Travis County emergency services, Travis County sheriffs office, Travis County constable personnel, Austin fire department, Austin Travis County emergency medical system, Austin police department, and even a local citizen presented themselves and performed their services efficiently and professionally.
whereas the Travis County emergency services districts hazardous material team was in close proximity to the site of this tragic event and arrived at the scene quickly to efficiently fight the fire and assist in the evacuation and rescue of the occupants of the echelon two, their quick response and fast actions undoubtedly saved the lives of their fellow citizens.
whereas esd two, esd three, esd six and esd nine acted not for self but for others and went forward to minimize the loss of life and property, whereas the Travis County medical examiner's office was activated to handle mass casualties, whereas the Travis County emergency operations center was activated and efficiently performed those duties required to coordinate the lifesaving active on that day, whereas the Austin fire defendant made effective use of equipment and personnel in containing and extinguishing the fire.
whereas the Austin police department provided law enforcement, order and security in returning peace and tranquility to the citizens of our community, whereas the occupants of the echelon set an example for us all as they evacuated the building under extremely hazardous conditions while helping and assisting others, whereas robin dehalfen acted with resolve and bravery to assist in the rescue of his fellow citizens, whereas the Travis County sheriffs office provided security of the crime scene and abely assisted in the tract control in the area, whereas the Travis County wireless operations was up and performing so that all of the communications by first responders perform at a high level of efficiency si, whereas the personnel assisted the incident area and provided traffic con control congested roadways, whereas the emergency medical system efficiently deployed to the scene with the anticipation of handling mass injuries and casualty, ems efficiently assisted those on the scene and transported those requiring treatment to the trauma center.
whereas the star flight air ambulance transported the burn vic requiring hospitalization to the san antonio burn centers.
now therefore be it resolved that the Travis County Commissioners court here by recognizes with gratitude the emergency response personnel and brave citizens who responded to the needs of their fellow men and women on that tragic day special people stepped forward to perform heroic duties.
we thank you them for their service to the people of Travis County.
adopted this day, the 9th day of March, 2010.
>> (applause).
>> move approval, Commissioner Huber second.
mr.
hobby.
>> if I could request I be handed proclamations and I can pass those out in the hall.
i think it would be appropriate for you to meet each individual here.
we thank them for coming.
if you all could come down.
we'll have them shake your hand and exit that way.
>> would the chief like to say anything?
i don't want him to go back to the city and say we mistreated her.
>> I would.
i can speak for everybody here and everybody on the scene that day.
i think everybody would say we were just doing our job.
but I think that I want to say thank you to all the analysis and all the people that were there and that worked so well together, that really resulted in the outcome that it did.
it shows that wene know how to work together and that the result is always the best when we do that.
so thank you very much.
we appreciate the honor.
>> we know you are the fire chief, but what is your full name for those who haven't seen you before.
>> rhoda baker.
>> you have been with us now fo.
>> just a little over a year, sir.
>> okay.
>> it's great to have you all.
and also to know that the echelon building contained tax personnel.
and this is what our taxes pay for.
these kinds of services, these sorts of brave individuals who are able to respond to crisis like this.
>> I want to say thank you for your service.
it's greatly appreciated by all the residents of Travis County.
i think you set a clear example of the model that in my opinion should be duplicated across the nation because of your quick response and the coordinated effort that was made.
and that is tremendous.
i salute you.
thank you.
>> we appreciate all of you and all that you do.
danny has arranged for you to shake our hands whether you want to or not.
>> let's do it.
>> all in favor.
that passes by unanimous vote, with Commissioner Gomez still away.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 2:53 PM
