By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian 

10-29-24

Uvalde County Commissioner’s Court met on Monday, October 28th where Uvalde County Grant Writer Carl Esser presented a new FEMA allocated EOC grant award of $2,250,00 to go toward funding the completion of the Uvalde County Emergency Management Operations Center (EOC) located on 207 South Getty Street which was formerly the location of the American Lumber Company.

Esser provided the following background on the project:

Feb 27th, 2023:      Uvalde County purchased the American Lumber Company Building at 207 South Getty Street $725,000 with Pandemic American Recovery Plan Act Grant Funding

March 13, 2023:     Uvalde County adopted a resolution for FY 2024 Community Project funding requesting from the U.S Department of Homeland Security $2,250,000 with 25% match of $750,000 totaling a project cost of $3 million dollars to renovate the existing American Lumber Company Building.

June 22nd, 2023:  Congressman Tony Gonzales announced that the Homeland Security Funding Package had passed the U.S. House Appropriations Committee including $2,250,00 for the Uvalde County Emergency Operations Center buildup.

October 15th, 2024:  Uvalde County received their grant award letter from the Texas Division of Emergency Management for the EOC $2,250,000 (Federal share) and a local share of 25% for $750,000. The local match will include $725,000 that was the building’s purchase price with an additional $25,000 in-kind match over the course of the grant with no additional Uvalde County match required.

The new FEMA grant’s period is from September 1st, 2024 through August 21st, 2024. The County has 3-years to complete the project.

According to Esser the new EOC will serve Uvalde County and surrounding counties to serve as a one stop center to manage, mitigate, respond to both man-made and natural disasters to better equip smaller adjacent counties with needed resources.

According to Esser, Construction has not yet started on the new EOC. According to Esser the Uvalde County Commissioners will be visiting other counties where their respective emergency operations centers have been upgraded.

Texas County Emergency Management Center links of interest

Dallas County breaks ground on $40 million emergency operations center | Community Impact

Texas Division of Emergency Management

  Testimonies presented by Robb Teacher Arnulfo Reyes and parents of the children killed at the Robb School massacre were filled with a mix of raw emotions as experiences recounted during the massacre and days and weeks following the massacre. Panels described the PTSD and difficulties facing each day struggling to apply for unemployment and paperwork required to access relief funds as well as the challenges of just facing each new day.

 U.S. House of Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Juaquin Castro who are members of the Congressional Children’s Caucus led the listening session and came to Uvalde in an effort to learn what Federal actions and legislative actions are needed and recommended by the families and others  impacted by the April 24th, 2022 Robb School Massacre. 

“We came because we care.” Jackson Lee said. 

“The entire nation continues to grieve for Uvalde. We share your pain but it is not the pain you have.” Jackson Lee said as part of her opening remarks.

  Mr. Arnulfo Reyes was asked by Jackson Lee what those 77 minutes were like. 

  “It’s the longest in my life. The students asked, ‘What’s going on Mr. Reyes?’” I could see the sparks coming out of the gun.   

  He then sat at my desk dropping metal objects. He sat there and taunted me. He splattered my blood on me. He put my phone on my back. As I layered there for a while he shot me in my back . I guess he wanted to be sure I was dead. He shot her. No one came into the room until after 77 mins.”

  During the quiet times they weren’t talking to him, I felt like I was abandoned. I heard all the gunshots.“

  Jackson Lee then asked him, ” What do you think this has done to teachers and the profession?

  Reyes answered, “We already have a shortage of teachers. My district doesn’t even call to check up on me.”

 

Congressman Castro then asked the panel of the parents and Teacher Arnulfo Reyes,

“What were you told by officers outside of the school?”

  “A Uvalde’s PD officer told me none was hurt . He said he was told it was a barricaded subject. ” one parent said

 The parent went on to say, “An officer said they had it under control and to “Trust us.”

The subject of the Compassion Fund was brought up. 

 

 “There is a lot of money out there but we aren’t getting it,”  Javier Cazaras said.

Representative Castro then asked,” What other resource what other things do you need?”

“You can’t help us. We just want a federal ban on assault weapons,” Kimberly Rubio said.

 

  Another parent answered, “Police training”

 Cazares then continued by saying, ” Regarding safety. The doors, the same locks, the same doors.

  All the district Uvalde CISD can talk about is we’re going to get out of debt.”

 

  During her closing remarks, Jackson Lee stated that their task is set as the go back to Congress. 

 

  State Senator Roland Gutierrez also spoke before Representatives Jackson Lee and Castro. He spoke about the difficulties he experiences getting answers about the investigation from the Texas Department of Public Safety officials.