The Bladen County Local Emergency Planning Committee (BLEP) meet Thursday and dealt with a variety of issues.
Joel Blake of Chemours Co., formerly a DuPont operation, presided over the meeting. He was re-elected for another year, Bradley Kinlaw was re-elected Vice Chair and Debra Conner was re-elected Secretary.
The committee is appointed by the Bladen County Board of Commissioners and one of the purposes of the committee is to work with industry in the county to determine the types of chemicals being used and the approximate amount of chemicals at the local industries.
The information is extremely important if/when an accident occurs. Fireman and other emergency workers have a better idea of how to deal with the emergency.
EMS and local industries work together throughout the year with ‘table top’ exercises as they prepare for worst case situations. Some examples include, a shooter in a plant or a school; a chemical spill. There is concern about the type chemicals that are not only stored in the industrial facilities, but the type chemicals that pass through the county by truck or rail.
Agencies that are included on the LEPC include schools, industries, hospital, health department, members of the clergy, just to mention a few.
‘Table Top’ exercises are sometimes initiated by a local industry or public agency, but it is not uncommon for many. Emergency offices to be involved in one way or another.
A recent exercise involved a school drill and the school was ‘locked down.’
Kinlaw told the committee the county now can provide climate controlled shelters and 4 sites have been determined to be ready, just in case they are needed. They include East and West Bladen high schools, East Arcadia BCC site and Bladen Lakes School. Other sites can be used, if an emergency were to occur, but the 4 mentioned will be the prime sites.
The committee voted to propose meeting twice a year in November and May. Normally, the meetings are held at the Bladen County Health Department meeting room.
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