Preparing for the Worst - Carroll Co. LEPC Meets

By LYNNETTE FORTH | For The Prairie Advocate News

MOUNT CARROLL – Members of the Carroll County Unified Command/Local Emergency Planning Committee met on January 16th at the Carroll County Farm Bureau in Mount Carroll for its quarterly meeting.

Greg Miller, coordinator, informed members that the Hazard Mitigation plan has been completed and is currently waiting for Federal approval, hopefully by April. Interested parties can view the mitigation plan at www.carroll-county.net.

The County is going to be hosting a table top exercise for the Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan. This will take place at the Carroll County Farm Bureau, and will include local Fire and EMS personnel, city officials, police, school administration, and any other individuals involved in emergency communications.

Red Cross spokesman Scott Allshouse reported that currently Carroll County has ten cots available, and would like to see more for use in the event of an emergency situation. During the recent blizzard, for example, the Shannon Fire Department provided shelter for approximately fifty persons, and cots would have been helpful and appreciated.

Sally Marken, CC Health Dept., reported that the V.O.A.D group (made up of county wide church members) has been meeting, and are making decisions regarding how they want themselves identified within the community. The group is hoping to be utilized as a resource for the county in the event of a disaster, to provide relief to citizens, offering food, tools, and equipment.

Craig Beintema, also with the CCHD, and Marken informed the group of the large amount of flu raging through the community. Marken stated “the cases are starting to slow down, but we are expecting the possibility of a second round.”

On February 7th the Health Department will be participating in the “Great American Shake Out,” a drill to provide earthquake awareness. More information can be obtained by visiting www.shakeout.org.

Members learned that the Federal Government is now paying for the water bill at the Prison in Thomson, and that personnel have been seen at the facility.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 17th 2013, with the location to be determined.