Cooke County hires new emergency management coordinator ahead of storm

GAINESVILLE, Texas — Cooke County has hired a new emergency management coordinator just in time for a major winter storm to hit the region, with Rand Brown bringing military and federal emergency experience to the position. Brown, a former U.S. Marine with experience at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will officially begin his term Monday pending approval from the Cooke County Commissioners Court. He has already been working with county officials to prepare for this weekend's winter storm. "He's a former U.S. Marine, and he was chosen because of his experience with FEMA," County Judge John Roane said. "He has just done a wonderful job so far." Brown wasted no time addressing the incoming storm, urging residents to take the threat seriously. "Saturday and Sunday are probably going to be ugly, and if it's going to be icy, I strongly recommend that people stay put on Saturday and Sunday," Brown said. He noted that while the storm will be severe, it should be relatively short-lived. "We're only looking at about two-and-a-half days when this is going to be in effect. This isn't going to be weeks." The Commissioners Court will meet Monday, January 24 at 10 a.m. at the Cooke County Courthouse to formally approve Brown's appointment. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Cooke County Texas YouTube channel. Residents can follow Cooke County emergency management updates through official county channels as the storm approaches.