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Commission to combat crises

BY DALE ELLIS
Managing Editor    21 Feb 2003

Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2002, communities across the U.S. have worked to coordinate with federal officials programs to help combat the threat of terrorism and other hazards.

In White County, a first step was taken Thursday with the formation of a local committee, the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC), designed to form a local disaster preparedness plan and to be prepared to implement emergency measures in the event of a disaster, whether natural or man-made.

Representatives from local government, media, area hospitals, and the Searcy Fire Department were among those asked to join the commission and to begin work on putting together such a plan.

Lieutenant Stan Rogers, the Searcy Fire Department training officer, acting as interim chairman of the commission, stressed the need for continuity of government and services in the event of a disaster. To that end, he designated Searcy Mayor Belinda LaForce and County Judge Bob Parish as the committee in charge of ensuring such continuity.

"You will be in the command center in the event of a tornado or natural disaster," Rogers told LaForce.

Captain Ken Edmunson of the Searcy Police Department was placed in charge of communications and warnings in the event of an emergency, charged with dissemination of information to the public and the press and to coordinate police activities.

He noted that the Searcy Fire Department, as the only department certified for hazardous materials detection and disposal in the county, would be responsible for dealing with containment of chemical or biological hazards.

Other committees formed at the meeting dealt with radiological protection, resource and supply, damage assessment, and terrorism.

"We'll probably all work on that," Rogers said of the possibility of terrorist activity.

He said that the state has allocated $10,000 to the county toward the effort of forming the commission, and that more money may be available later.

"Today," he said, "we need to decide how to spend this money." The money, he said, is part of money allocated to all 50 states by the Department of Homeland Security for local efforts at emergency preparedness.

"White County does not have an emergency plan," Rogers said, noting that, although the north central region of the state is far ahead of the rest of the state, White County still lags behind other counties in the region.

"Searcy's plan is 30 years old," he continued. "It addresses Titan II missile silos. We are not the terrorist target we were when we had launch capabilities."

He noted that the commission would need to come up with a plan to submit to the county judge by March 14.

"I want to encourage the leaders in other towns to throw in and come up with a plan," he said. "We can network together."

When the question was raised as to just how the initial $10,000 should be spent, Bobby Armstrong of NorthStar EMS suggested the purchase of appropriate computer software to assist in plan development. It was also noted that local law enforcement and fire personnel do not have access to gas masks or protective suits, and that training will be needed for personnel in all 16 incorporated cities in the county.

Captain Greg Pelt of the National Guard said that he would look into the availability of a team from the Pine Bluff Arsenal to provide some of the needed training in chemical and biological preparedness. He also noted the need to establish and equip a central command and communications center for use in emergency situations.

Rogers then asked each committee to come up with a plan for each area of responsibility for presentation by March 1.

"I'd like us to not concentrate on one thing but to have a list," he said. "I want Arkansas Department of Emergency Management to know we are trying to work up a diversified plan."

Armstrong, who was elected vice-chairman of the committee, noted that once the effort is underway, more grants could be available from both state and federal sources.

"I think we're going to get more grants coming down the road," he said. "We need to start small and build our way up."

Rogers said that of $900,000 allocated by the federal government to the state in 1992, "not one region has a plan together to receive this money and that was 2002. In 2003 there's supposed to be more than a million dollars."

He commented that the most critical need currently is to educate the public on the different types of emergencies that could be faced and what to do in each type of emergency.

"There are people out here in the city who live in apartments or neighborhoods or whatever," he said, "and all they know is, 'my car starts in the morning and I go to work.' They just don't think about it."

LaForce agreed that such a plan is critical in light of not only the current world situation, but the fact that Arkansas has suffered a number of natural disasters over the years, and is not only prone to tornadoes and other weather-related disasters, but earthquakes as well.

"This is long overdue," said the mayor. "I think if we are the first region to get started, we'll be the cornerstone for every else."

The committee agreed to meet the third Thursday of each month at 1 p.m. and will also meet Tuesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. to come up with a plan of how the money allocated to White County would best be utilized.

The target date for completion of a final plan is December 1.

"I want our plan to be the best in the state," Rogers declared. "I want it to be the model for the state. My motto is if you are the best, then you are the best."

"I'm very excited about what we are doing," he added. "Like the mayor, I think this is long overdue."

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