By Billy Davis

Panola County government has been recognized by the Feds for correcting flood plain problems in a timely manner.

Panola County received the Program Award for Excellence in April at a meeting of flood plain managers across the state.

Accepting the award were Gary Thompson, president of the Board of Supervisors, and flood plain manager Michael Purdy.

A MEMA representative, Stacey Ricks, entered the nomination. 

Purdy was hired by Panola County supervisors in 2009 soon after a MEMA inspection found the county had failed to follow guidelines for the National Flood Insurance Program.

Eleven deficiencies were found in all recalled Purdy, who was tasked with correcting them.

Ricks, in his nomination letter, credited Panola for hiring a full-time person to correct the deficiencies, then credited the county for working to lower the Community Rating System numbers.

Purdy likened the CRS to fire insurance rating and said he is working to lower Panola County from a 10 to an 8 on the rating scale.

“This community deserves recognition for their efforts in going from no program to CRS in under three years,” Ricks wrote.

“The only credit that the board deserves is that we hired Michael,” said Thompson. “He’s done an outstanding job.”

The  Board of Supervisors hired Purdy, 34, from a pool of 10 candidates. He is currently overseeing the county permit office as well as overseeing flood plain matters.