Dearborn Emergency Manager to Update Public on Preparedness Planning

Submitted by Kevin Byrnes

Emergency preparedness planning and strategies will highlight the third quarter meeting of the Wayne County Local Emergency Planning Committee (WC LEPC) on Sept. 4, at 2 p.m.

Dearborn Emergency Manager Brad Smith will lead the presentation, slated to be held at Wayne County Community College District campus in Taylor. The meeting will be held in the MIPSE building and is open to the public.

“As a former sheriff, I know the importance of having the public feel safe,” said Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. “The WC LEPC is one of the tools always ready in case of an emergency or significant incident."

The WC LEPC is a public-private partnership concerned with hazardous materials safety and reporting. The WC LEPC offers access to information on the storage of hazardous materials for the benefit of Wayne County residents, businesses and industries.

In coordination with the Wayne County Homeland Security and Emergency Management unit, the WC LEPC also facilitates meetings between the public and private partners to share information and enhance one-to-one contact. It also conducts training classes for first responders in accessing hazardous materials information online.

Other duties include coordinating with Local Emergency Planning Committees in adjacent counties as part of ongoing regional preparedness. The WC LEPC committee carries out its directives in compliance with SARA Title III. The act establishes requirements for federal, state and local governments regarding emergency planning and community reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals.

"I commend the ongoing work of the WC LEPC and encourage the public to learn more about what they do to help them feel safe,” Ficano said.

For more information on preparedness tips from the Wayne County Department of Homeland Security, go to the Wayne County website at www.waynecounty.com and click on the Homeland Security and Emergency Management page under the departments tab.