Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue has proclaimed a local emergency due to the impact of the Madera Community Hospital closure.

This follows an emergency meeting held by the Madera County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 29 to discuss what direction the county should take to mitigate costs and establish medical care in Madera.

Due to the lack of hospital services in Madera County, a strain on response times for law enforcement and other emergency services is expected.

By proclaiming a local state of emergency, the Sheriff’s Department and Madera County are formally requesting help from the state and federal government.

“We continue to closely monitor this evolving situation. The closure of Madera Community Hospital will have widespread effects on our community as a whole,” says Sheriff Pogue. “This proclamation will request needed resources to support our efforts to continue providing the same high level of service and safety to our citizens in Madera County.”

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Related story: With 22 patients to go, Madera hospital shuts down as county leaders weigh options