Mahoning County EMA will store emergency provisions for food bank

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – All the recent hurricane activity in the south is a reminder for local officials to be prepared should disaster strike here in the Valley.

Mahoning County Commissioners approved an agreement Thursday between Second Harvest Foodbank and the county’s emergency management agency. It will allow directors to use the foodbank’s facilities to keep various supplies that might be shipped in the event of a disaster or other emergency situation.

“This is a ready place to store those items because we don’t have any storage facilities. In addition to that, the refrigeration units are very important if it’s perishable food or medicine. Again, we have a place to put it,” said Robin Lees, with Mahoning County Emergency Management.

The agreement would also allow EMA to assist the foodbank during distribution programs like we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic by sending out the county’s mobile command unit.

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