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Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby announced Wednesday evening the termination of Billy Harrell as the county’s Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director. Effective immediately, Shannon Winters, the department’s deputy director, will serve as interim director.

Mayor Woodby assured residents that the leadership transition will not disrupt emergency assistance or relief efforts as the community continues to recover from Hurricane Helene.

“This transition will not adversely affect Carter County citizens from receiving assistance and support, nor will it stall relief efforts,” Woodby said in a statement.

Woodby emphasized the county’s commitment to improving emergency preparedness following lessons learned from the recent catastrophic event.

“We are enhancing our ‘whole community approach’ to emergency management, which means having a more proactive approach to planning and actively engaging all sectors of our communities, including individuals, businesses, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, and all levels of government,” she said.

The strategy aims to create a collaborative environment where all community members play a role in disaster preparedness and response, rather than relying solely on emergency services.

Carter County remains focused on ensuring the safety of life and property while continuing its recovery efforts.