KILLEEN, Texas — A local state of disaster for a public health emergency was declared again Thursday for the City of Killeen.
Mayor Jose Segarra signed the declaration, which will need to be approved by the city council. The declaration will remain in effect until Segarra terminates it.
The declaration activates the city's emergency management plan and authorizes aid and assistance, according to the city. The disaster declaration is the same one that was originally issued in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The city's original declaration ended on June 1, when the county terminated its own disaster declaration.
It also authorizes the city to take any necessary actions to promote health and suppress the COVID-19 virus including but not limited to quarantining patients, establishing quarantine stations, as well as testing stations, vaccination stations and emergency hospitals.
It also allows the city to insure compliance for those who do not comply with the City’s rules and directives.
The declaration comes just days after the city launched a vaccine campaign giving citizens the ability to text GETVAX to 438829 for a list of places to get the vaccine.
Each person is also sent information about free childcare and getting a ride to a vaccination location. Residents may also call the connected hotline at 1-800-232-0233 for the same information.