LEPC and Region 21 needed updates

The Local Emergency Planning Commission met for the first time since Kimball County recently rejoined Region 21 Emergency Management.

Kevin Sherman was named chairperson, with Wayne Elliot as vice-chair, Laura Bateman as secretary and Ron Leal as the information coordinator.

The committee discussed meeting dates, once each quarter in February, May, August and November, and reviewed the local hazardous material emergency plan and the bylaws.

Shelters in the area were discussed, as several buildings were previously listed in the Tier II emergency book, but many of them are no longer available for emergency and storm shelters.

“That will be something that we will identify and get that out to the public so they know,” Leal said. “We are going to have to do a lot of public education on this book.”

Leal added that he would like to see the emergency plan in book form at the local library as well as on the City of Kimball and Kimball County websites.

The next meeting will be on May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kimball Volunteer Fire Department.

Other actions taken by the board were:

Tabled the review of Tier II forms.

Discussed necessary changes to the Tier II books and planned to rewrite the books at a future meeting.

Heard department reports from the chairperson and several members.