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