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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-08 Minutes New Hanover and Pender Counties Meeting Minutes for September 8, 2021 11:00 AM In-Person/TEAMS Name Business Name Business Diana Vetter-Craft Mark Lewis Airgas National Welders NHC Health Dept. Jeff Suggs NC Dept. of Environmental Stan Harts Alcami Corporation Linda Willis Quality DAQ Jeannine Patané NC Dept. of Environment and American Red Cross Heidi Cox Natural Resources Michael Thompson Cape Fear Public Utility Eric Hatcher David Hancock NC Dept. of Transportation Authority Kenny Scott City of Wilmington Fire Natosha Vincent Billy Howard NHRMC EMS Department John Stephenson Paul Carr NHRMC Emergency Phillip Watts Colonial Terminals Management Catrina Striba Thomas Jenkins Pender County Emergency Corning Sarah Taylor Management Carol Yates Elementis Adrienne Kyle Earley Pender County Health Dept Michalek Tina Kuhr GE Hitachi/Global Nuclear Mark Venters Marchele Evans Praxair Fuels Wade Mattox Randy Wright HEPACO Kevin Cowan Seaside Safety Jon Booth Kinder Morgan Ron Stancil Sturdy Corporation Darren Goodman UNC-W Environmental Health NHC Commissioner Jonathan Barfield Eric Griffin & Safety NHC Emergency Teresa Smith Elizabeth LaDow US Dept. of Transportation Management Jason Lee NHC IT Lt. Paul Verzaal Wilmington Police Department Welcome and Introductions Teresa Smith welcomed those attending in person and online. Review and Approval of Minutes The minutes of the July 14, 2021, meeting had been distributed previously. There was one correction, the spelling of Stepan Company. The minutes were accepted as corrected. Mark Venters moved; Randy Wright seconded. Teresa Smith will post the corrected minutes on NHC Website. Membership Announcements  Mark Venters reported that the GE Hitachi exercise is scheduled for October 20, but the site has submitted an exemption request to extend the date to as late as June 2022.  Lt. Kenny Scott stated that the Wilmington Airport’s annual tabletop is on September 28. It will be a hybrid meeting, both on Zoom and in person. If you want an invite, email Lt. Scott at kscott@flyilm.com. Presentation: COVID-19 Updates – What do you need to know? Diana Vetter-Craft, NHC HD, Preparedness Coordinator New Hanover County currently has 1454 active cases (based on positive test results) and 95 hospital admissions. A significant number of these are on ventilators. There have been 213 deaths (total). There is a high level of community transmission. The Delta variant is the dominant strain. There have been a few breakthrough infections that they are tracking. The New Hanover County Health Department (NHC HD) is trying to find out if those patients were fully or partially vaccinated, and which vaccine they had. In NHC, 56% fully vaccinated; 68% have had at least one dose. This means 63% of those 12 and older are fully vaccinated. The county’s goal is 75%, which is achievable with only vaccinating those ages 12 and up. Fully vaccinated means two weeks after completion of the immunization series of one of the three approved vaccines (one dose for J&J or two doses for Moderna and Pfizer). The new variant from Columbia may not be prevented by the current vaccines; it has not been found in NC yet. Steps to slow the spread include staying home if sick. Businesses should encourage this and have or develop a sickness policy. Other steps include social distancing, staggering shifts, telework (if feasible), and mask and vaccine policies. OSHA has put out a temporary order. NHC HD can provide templates and assist businesses in creating policies. The NHC Health Department can assist with or coordinate COVID- 19 testing, as well as help and coordinate vaccine clinics (including for workplaces). They encourage employers to provide information to their employees on vaccination locations and the most updated information and guidance for COVID-19. NHC has instituted an indoor mask mandate through a Health Department Abatement Order. Individuals need to be careful what they post or repost on social media. Encourage vaccination. The mRNA vaccine technology is not new. Also, follow mask mandates. NHC HD has been talking with major health care providers about how to do clinics for booster shots (eight months after the initial series). Providers will no longer be able to use the Pointe Theater or Independence Mall. Right now, booster shots are only being discussed for the Pfizer vaccine. Booster shot clinics could begin as early as September 20. Committee Updates 1. Executive Committee - Teresa Smith, Frank Meyer, Tina Kuhr There will be one more LEPC meeting this year in November, which will include elections for 2022 officers. Teresa Smith will work with Tina Kuhr to obtain nominations before the November meeting; Tina will handle the voting process. Voting will be done online. 2. Emergency Planning/Response - John Stephenson, Tommy Batson The contractor is working on the exercise scenario. The committee was supposed to have a meeting with him yesterday, but he was not able to meet. He will be reaching out to John. The exercise date is November 18; it is currently planned to be an in-person tabletop. However, it may be changed to virtual, if needed. They wants all LEPC members to attend, even if it is just to observe. 3. Conference Planning Committee - Jeannine Patené, Adrienne Michalek and Dianna Vetter-Craft Planning for the conference has begun. The target is to hold it in February 2022. Teresa is trying to work with the budget to have an annual conference, even if the county does not receive grants in future years. Open Forum Tina Kuhr – GE have moved to using Box to distribute Safety Data Sheet information. Those expected to use the information have received invitations to set up their accounts on Box. If anyone needs the invitation to be resent, email her at Ernestine.kuhr@ge.com. Adjournment The motion to adjourn was made by Mark Venters and seconded by Randy Wright. The meeting was adjourned at 11:52 AM. 2021 LEPC Meeting Schedule The next meeting will be November 10th @ 11:00am – In-person/TEAMS. Elections for 2022 officers will take place during this meeting.