Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly signed a local state of disaster declaration Monday in response to the threat posed by the New World screwworm, which has been identified in neighboring Gillespie County.

The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in place for seven days, after which it will go before the Kerr County Commissioners Court at its regular open meeting Monday, June 22, for consideration of an extension.

Signing the declaration activates the county's emergency management plan, directing the county's emergency management coordinator and other officials to coordinate with local, state and federal agencies on surveillance, reporting, public information, preparedness and response related to the screwworm.