DNR specialist lauded for work after tornado

For his work in helping start aid and relief efforts after a tornado in February, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Environmental Specialist Deric Calvert is the May State Employee of the Month.

On the evening of Feb. 24, an F-2 tornado hit Malden in Dunklin County. The tornado damaged 66 homes and businesses. It brought down trees, which caused power outages to portions of the community.

Calvert lives in Dunklin County and notified his supervisor, Bradley Ledbetter, of the natural disaster. Calvert had received firsthand accounts of the storm, and although a newer employee with the department, Calvert recognized the need and importance of contacting his supervisor to report the incident, Ledbetter said.

In addition to providing Ledbetter with the information about the storm, Calvert provided personal cellphone numbers of city employees for additional follow-up.

"While it was difficult to make contact with officials in the immediate hours following the storm, Deric didn't let that stop him," Ledbetter said in his nomination for Calvert. "He began calling friends in the Malden community to gather updates on effects of the storm, such as power outages, water and sewer services, etc. Deric's initiative allowed me to relay firsthand events of the disaster to the department's management team and to make contact with city officials over the weekend to better determine how the department could provide needed services to the city."

Once contact with city officials was made, it was determined that drinking water and sewer services were OK, but the greatest need from the department was issuance of a burn permit to mitigate the accumulation of downed trees and other vegetative wastes. The department's Southeast Regional Office staff was able to obtain a permit application from the city and issue the city a burn permit in a matter of a few hours the Monday after the disaster.

"It should also be noted that Deric was the first to volunteer to go and meet with city officials and tour the disaster-torn neighborhoods in Malden," Ledbetter said. "Deric took some of the first photographs of the damaged areas and created a map showing the path the tornado took. His efforts were invaluable to the department and to other agencies monitoring the disaster from remote locations."

After the initial effects of the storm and cleanup began, the department in coordination with the State Emergency Management Agency sponsored a "Multi-Agency Resource Center" meeting to provide information and resources to assist local residents in Malden with recovery efforts. Ledbetter said Calvert went to that meeting and stayed several hours, assisting residents in trying to get the help they needed.

"Deric continues to monitor the recovery process at Malden and is ready to help in any way he can," Ledbetter said. "In natural disasters such as the tornado that hit Malden, it takes many volunteers, local, state and federal agencies working together to help ease the burden for those affected and to help them pick up the pieces to get things back to normal. And in times like these, I'm always proud when the agency that I work for can assist our neighbors and to help make a difference. But I'm even more proud when I can see a new employee, such as Deric, recognize and understand the big picture of why we are all here."