Bladen County LEPC Plans for Emergencies

The Bladen County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) met Thursday, February 2 and continued making plans and updating information.

Joe Blake of Dupont is the chairman of the committee, Dwight Sheppard is vice chair. Debra Conner, at the Bladen County Health Department, is the secretary. Members of he committee consist of representatives from many county agencies, the private sector and the clergy.

(L-R) Kinlaw, Hester and Cannon

Joel Blake

The committee has been appointed by the Bladen County Board of Commissioners as required by law. The primary purpose of the LEPC is to ensure fulfillment of responsibilities for local hazardous material emergency planning pursuant to the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA).

In an earlier meeting, discussions included weather related events such as hurricanes and tornadoes, shooting incidents in public places, hazardous spills and leaks. There are other potentially dangerous situations that could occur at any time in numerous locations in Bladen County. An example is chemicals being transported through the county on highways and rail.

The committee has attempted to inventory county agencies and private companies to determine services already available, how to co-ordinate those efforts in times of an emergency, determine potential hazardous situations in the county and how to get the news out to Bladen residents when emergencies do occur.

Bradley Kinlaw is the Public Information Officer. He and Captain Rodney Hester of the Bladen County Sheriff's department have taken public information courses as have Carol Strickland and Marianne Valentiner of the Bladen County Health Department.

Rev. Bruce Cannon and Rev. Larry Hayes have an updated list of credentialed volunteers that are available for counseling for any type emergency.

At the most recent meeting, Bradley Kinlaw expressed concerns that out of 35,000 residents in the county only about 1% of residents have added their cell numbers for automatic updates if/when an emergency occurs. Names listed in telephone directories are already entered in the system. It is free and numbers can be added by going to the Bladen County website.

Kinlaw and Hester reported that an exercise is scheduled for March 9 at East Bladen High School. Most emergency agencies are expected to be included, including Bladen County Hospital. The mock scene will be a hostage situation at the school with casualties.

Later this year, emergency personnel are hopeful that a mock training session will center around a chemical leak or something similar at one of the local industries.

Late last year, a similar exercise was held at Dupont.

The next meeting of the committee is planned for May 3, 2012, 10 AM at the Bladen County Health Department. For more information, contact Bradley Kinlaw, Bladen County Emergency Management Director at 910-862-6760.