July 21, 2011

Garnett, Kansas

 

 

The Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) met on July 21, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. with the following members present: Jolene Alexander, USDA – FSA; John Alford, EKAE;               Diane Bertone, SEK-Multi-County Health Department;  Don Blome, USD #365; Jeff T. Hupp, Anderson County Sheriff; Marvin Grimes, Anderson County Emergency Mgmt; Kristie Kinney, City of Garnett; Michelle Miller, Anderson County Public Information Officer – Road Dept.;            Glenn Mudd, Beachner Grain; Don Nungesser, Anderson County EMS; Bob Palmer, Lybarger Oil; Robert Robbins, Anderson County EMS; Christina Rush, Anderson County Hospital;    Kevin Ryan, KDOT; Pat Tate, Public Safety; Oscar West, EKAE; Margo Williams, Anderson County Hospital; Kevin PeKarek, Garnett Police Chief; and Brianna Hiles, SEK Multi-County Health Department.

 

Absent: Nate Cunningham, Anderson County EMS/St. Rose; Troy S. Hart, Garnett Fire;     James K. Johnson, Anderson County Commissioner; Jim Manning, KDWP; Trent McCown, KDWP; J.D. Mersman, Anderson County Fire/Emergency Mgmt.; Kelly Meyers, KSANG; Freddy Partida, Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline; Alan Quaintance, USD # 365;               Leslea Rockers, East Central KS Agency on Aging; Cheryl Strobel, Apple Bus Co.;              Mike Thweatt, Kansas Highway Patrol; and Jessi Zillner, Anderson County Communication Center.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Robert Robbins, Committee Vice-Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. New members who were welcomed included: Jeff Hupp, Anderson County Sheriff, Kevin PeKarek, Garnett Police Chief, and Brianna Hiles, SEK Multi-County Health Department.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Margo Williams, seconded by John Alford to approve the minutes of May 26, 2011. Motion passed.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Margo Williams reported that we need to have another drill in the fall. The hospital is required to have emergency preparedness with HICS. Roles will need to be acted out as if in an actual emergency. Emergency Management and the State will evaluate the drill. She said we need to have a table top drill of winter plans for calls if the electric is down and other scenarios, as well as shelters. We also need to address when there are no backup oxygen tanks and there is no electricity.

 

Robert Robbins reported on the hospital Incident Command System (ICS), which is a computer-based ICS. When a position in the ICS is unfilled, the computer automatically calls the report to the command center every five (5) minutes until the position is filled.

 

Sheriff Huff stated that he concurs with Margo Williams in that there needs to be realism of training and the use of realistic scenarios to be used for training. Responders need to respond as if it were a real event. Margo said management needs to train staff to have the knowledge to perform the drill and understand their roles.

 

Jolene Alexander said that after the last drill, an actual event occurred in Greeley.              Marvin Grimes reported on the accident in Greeley and he said he involved Glenn Mudd. Glenn said the driver of the truck told them the tank was empty, otherwise you must assume the tank is full. The valves on the tank have a lot of protection when an impact occurs.

 

COMMUNICATION AND REPORTS

Robert Robbins reported on the EMS transition phase. The levels have changed for first responders and EMT’s so everyone must go to training. There is a lot of new information in the training.

 

Kristie Kinney reported that she has received good results on the City of Garnett newsletter request for priority customers. She had the notice reprinted in the summer newsletter. Code Red information is being placed in the new customer bags for new City utility customers.

 

Pat Tate reported that he talked to Marvin Grimes this morning about the dryness and decided to issue a City burn ban this morning. He said the Garnett Fire Department is looking for younger volunteer firefighters.

 

Michelle Miller reported that Rainbow Bridge, east of town on Fourth Avenue, will close August 1, 2011 for approximately three to four months. There will be a detour and maps available.

 

Marvin Grimes reported that the first of next week there may be a County-wide burn ban. Forecasters are calling for rain on Sunday, so he is waiting to see if it rains enough to alleviate the fire concerns. There was a house fire on July 4th in Kincaid and they were unable to get the electric off. The utility company was not identified and after a delay, they were able to get it turned off. He said we need to get contact numbers for all utilities for dispatch to call directly. The Anderson County Fire Department will obtain a new rescue truck the end of the month or the first of August, through Northeast Regional Homeland Security. The only item not on the truck is oxygen to refill bottles. The truck will be shown to the surrounding counties so they can see what is available on the truck.

 

Diane Bertone reported that there will be an emergency Point of Dispensing (POD) training exercise on August 3rd for the boy and girl scouts.

 

Jolene Alexander reported that farmers have to either harvest corn now or let it go to silage.

 

Margo Williams reported that Dr. Lindsay Westburg is a new doctor at the hospital. The hospital has several community wellness programs they have been working on. Dick Clark, engineer at the hospital, was killed in a motorcycle accident in Canada. Two (2) nurses at the hospital have passed the national certifications.

 

Chris Rush reported that the hospital has a new ET System in the Emergency Department, which will be a new charting system. Margo Williams stated Anderson County Hospital is ahead of other hospitals in the St. Luke’s network, for getting this system installed.

 

The next meeting will be September 22, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Law Enforcement Center.

 

There being no further business to come before the committee, a motion was made by

Kristie Kinney, seconded by Jolene Alexander to adjourn. Motion passed.

 

 

 

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Kristina L. Kinney, Secretary