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LOCAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING

September 21, 2006

 

On September 21, 2006 the Grant County Local Emergency Planning Committee traveled to Johnson, Kansas to attend the Stanton County Foreign Animal Disease Stop Movement Exercise. This exercise looked at where and how traffic would be stopped if an outbreak occurred in a certain area.  It looked at the isolation zone, quarantine zone and if necessary stopping traffic at the county borders and state borders.  It also addresses the amount of manpower needed and where that manpower might be obtained.  Some of the people involved if a Foreign Animal Disease occurred or was suspected would be Law Enforcement, Public Works, Health Department, Commissioners, Fire Department, Emergency Management, Extension Agents, Veterinarians, Feedlots, Farmers, Ranchers, Highway Patrol, Kansas Department of Transportation and Kansas Animal Health.

            We looked at the Stop Movement Forms, Kansas Animal Health developed and the Health Certificates that might accompany the animals.  By answering the questions on the forms, it will help determine if the animals can be sent back to there former location or allowed to continue to their destination or off load at an alternate site for surveillance.  Most traffic will be stopped but the main vehicles to be detained will be livestock haulers (dead or alive), grain haulers, milk trucks, and truck hauling equipment that is used around livestock.

            The importance of a Public Information Officer and the Joint information Center was also discussed.

            The National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System will be utilized to manage and coordinate ALL response Activities. It is very important that all Local, State, and County departments, farmers and ranchers, and private industries take the NIMS and ICS training so everyone will be familiar with how things should work.

            Members attending were Sherry Thompson, Richard Everett, Jeff Baier, John Crosby, Alan Olson, Sharon Phelps, Lance Babcock, Cindy Howard-Reeves, Vivian Button and Don Button.

            The next LEPC Meeting will be October 19, 2006 in the Basement of the Grant County Courthouse at 7:00 PM.

 

Submitted by Vivian Button