ELKINS — Elkins Operations Manager Michael Kesecker has announced his intentions to roll out a business continuity disaster recovery plan for the city’s Operations Department.

Kesecker, while discussing matters related to Elkins City Hall’s recovery and restoration at the most recent Elkins City Council meeting, said he was currently working on such a plan to ensure that city operations continue to run smoothly in the face of disaster. 

City Hall is currently closed for the foreseeable future due to restoration and recovery work, after it faced a sewage overflow incident on Aug. 31, which flooded the building’s basement and first floor, including the Elkins City Police Department.

“I think this is a learning experience for all of us to sit down and say ‘we need to develop a strong business continuity disaster recovery plan,'” Kesecker said. “So should something like this happen again, or should, God forbid, we have to go through what people in North Carolina and Florida are going through, we’re prepared, we don’t miss a beat. City government continues to provide the services that we’re obligated to provide and they need us to provide.”

Kesecker was referring to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which ravaged Southern states in the U.S. at the end of September and the beginning of October, leaving many without power and access to necessities. 

“There is no service we provide that’s not important, you have to realize that,” he said. “Each of them are equally important. Each of them provide an essential service to someone in this city, and we need to make sure, no matter what obstacle we’re facing, we still can provide that to everyone.”

Kesecker said the plan is currently being worked out in the Operations Department and afterward will be rolled out to the Street, Sanitation, Central Garage and Maintenance departments. He also gave praise to every city department for their efforts and cooperation during City Hall’s closure.

“My hat’s off to every department,” Kesecker said. “We’ve had bumps. We’ve sat in our office, scratching our heads, thought, ‘What do we do now,’ but we made it through it.”

Fifth Ward Council Member Cody Thompson praised the need for the plan.

“I think that’s phenomenal that you’re working on business continuity and disaster preparedness,” Thompson said. “You never think you’re going to need, but…”

Kesecker interjected, “We found out on Labor Day we do,” earning a laugh from the room.

“There’s a lot of what ifs, there’s a lot of unseens that we don’t know,” Kesecker said. “And you’re never going to be fully prepared for everything, but if we have a guideline to go off of, it sure gives us a fighting chance.”