PERRY, Ga. — The city of Perry and Houston County have entered into a new extension of an intergovernmental agreement aimed at ensuring the availability of fuel for emergency vehicles during natural disasters or other emergencies.
The agreement, recently approved by the Perry City Council, establishes a plan for Perry to access fuel from Houston County’s reserves if commercial fueling stations become unavailable.
The agreement guarantees Perry's emergency services, including fire trucks and police cars, will have access to the county’s fuel reserves at a rate of 1% above cost, according to Perry Fire Chief Lee Parker.
"This agreement ensures that we have an emergency fuel supply should our regular fuel supply be cut off," Parker said.
In the event of a disaster — such as a hurricane or tornado — where commercial fuel stations may be unable to supply fuel, this agreement allows Perry to tap into Houston County's reserve tanks.
“The county has thousands of gallons of fuel in reserve, which they keep full for situations like this,” Parker said. “This ensures we can continue to respond to emergencies and clear roadways for public safety.”
Chris Stoner, Houston County’s Emergency Management Agency Director, described the agreement as a critical redundancy.
“The county’s fueling stations serve our vehicles daily, but we are very intentional about ensuring they’re fully stocked ahead of any potential disaster,” Stoner said. “This agreement allows Perry to utilize our resources during a crisis, providing them the capacity they need to maintain essential operations.”
Parker added that although the Perry Fire Department has not had to rely on Houston County for fuel in past emergencies, the agreement provides peace of mind.
“We hope we never need to use it, but it’s good to have that safety net in place,” he said.
Both Perry and Houston County have a strong history of collaboration, especially during emergencies. Stoner emphasized that jurisdictional boundaries become irrelevant in disaster situations.
"We all work together under the emergency management umbrella, making decisions for the entire county regardless of whether an area is within a city or unincorporated limits," he said.
As the region braces for potential storm activity, the timing of this agreement could prove crucial. Should a hurricane or similar event impact Central Georgia, Perry’s first responders say they will have the resources necessary to continue their work without interruption.
To stay up to date on the tropics, and potential storm impacts, stay tuned to the weather forecasts and updates on our weather page.