Butler County Sheriff's Office

[Public Info Officer]

For Immediate Release… Date: April 30, 2009

Sheriff’s Office receives $43,000.00 in Federal Aid from Hurricane Ike…

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announced today that over $43,000.00 was received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (F.E.M.A.) to help reimburse funds used during the disaster relief from Hurricane Ike back on September 14th of 2008. Sheriff Jones stated that his agency applied for the funds due to the costs incurred during the time of the disaster. High velocity winds from (then downgraded) Tropical Depression Ike caused widespread power outages, downed trees, destroyed structures and damaged properties, leaving huge amounts of debris throughout the county.

Due to the power outages additional manpower was needed by Corrections Officers to provide security at each of the jail facilities. Deputies were utilized to respond to emergency calls, direct traffic at intersections and patrol the county roads to provide security in the disaster area. Dispatchers were required to answer the overwhelming emergency phone calls and several generators were utilized to provide emergency support for communications, lighting and security at each of the Sheriff’s Office facilities.

Sheriff Jones credits his office as being “Second to None” and is proud of the services provided to the citizens of Butler County during such times of crisis, especially in such hard economical times. He is especially thankful that his agency applied for and helped in refunding the taxpayer dollars used during the crisis that will now go back into the county general fund.

Prepared by: Sgt. Melina Smith
Criminal Investigations Division
(513) 785-1238