New Hanover County LEPC Minutes 1.9.2019New Hanover County LEPC Meeting
January 9, 2019
New Hanover County EOC
The following persons signed the roster indicating they were in attendance:
NAME BUSINESS NAME BUSINESS
Lisa Brown NHC Health Dept Linda Willis NCDEQ DAQ
Carol Yates Corning, Inc. Tommy Batson Pender County EM
Teresa Smith NHC EM Zak Whicker NHC EM
Jodie Ruskin UNCW J’Monda Dunston NC DEQ DAQ
Branden Sproles Acme Smoked Fish Frank Meyer NHC Fire
Aron Kasulis NHRMC-EMS D. Allen Hancock NCDOT Div 3
Jeff Suggs NHC Health Robin Lorenzen NC EM
Matt Pugliese Red Cross, LEPC Sarah Wright Sturdy Corp
Michael Thompson Red Cross Eric Hatcher CFPUA
Randy Wright SR&R Reid Southerland NCEM
Steve Mason Wilmington Fire Dept. Alan Pytcher NCDOT
Robin Lorenzen NC Emergency Management
Welcome and Introductions:
Teresa Smith opened the meeting at 11:17. Teresa brought the 2019 opening proclamation –
Procrastination is the enemy, why put off until tomorrow? Get ahead, be proactive.
Executive Committee:
Teresa Smith, Chairman
Eric Hatcher, Vice Chairman
Jodie Ruskin, Secretary
Membership announcements: N/A
Housekeeping 2018: Get your membership registrations to Teresa ASAP for 2018.
2019 - New registration forms were passed out.
Minutes:
Minutes of the November 2018 meeting were approved and seconded.
Open Forum:
New Business:
Alan Pytcher, NCDOT announced that on January 7, 2019 rehab to expand the life of the Cape Fear
Memorial Bridge will take place during the months of January, February and March.
DOT – US421 railroad track crossing will be closed at Sutton Lake Road for repair work. Asphalt
suppliers will be cut off. Starting Sunday 1/13 in 2 locations. Road closures will be inconvenient to EMS
and trucking industries. Pender County to help support EMS response. Should be completed in 2-3
days.
Housekeeping 2018: Get your membership registrations to Teresa ASAP for 2018.
2019 New Year Resolutions:
New registration forms were passed out.
An industry database needs to be created. We can all work together to gather information for industry
partners to use the LEPC as a first source for help. Industry, Contact Name, Phone Numbers and what
resources you have to contribute. Teresa volunteered to take the responsibility to keep information up
to date once gathered.
Project Discussions: Reauthorization for 2019
Eric Hatcher – discussed how a table-top exercise works and what we should expect. Information
learned can be applied to other disaster situations and the abilities of other response partners. Eric
Hatcher and Zack Whicker will be facilitating.
The exercise will be a chlorine release from a tanker truck in March. Participants will be encouraged to
look at the scenario and how the impact could affect your organization.
Following the Homeland Security After Action, we will try to turn this scenario into a full scale exercise.
As many organizations participate. Eric will reach out to potential players. Try to get info in February
before March Table-top. Teresa interjected this committee is for everyone. Full scale exercise has been
delayed due to Hurricane Florence.
Do we need workshops or equipment required to run an exercise? Grants can cover these expenses.
Grant Applications: Zack/Teresa – Funds are for everyone, not just for first responders. $2,000 – these
funds can be used for support costs of meetings, regional collaborations, LEPC Conferences, BEST
(Business Environmental Safety Training at the McKinnon Center, Raleigh) hazmat response efforts.
Suggestion made to bring an LEPC Conference to Wilmington. Matt Pugliere volunteered. Teresa will
appoint a committee.
Question: Robin- any plans of doing assessments this year? There are subscriptions that benefit LEPC,
and web services such as JJ Keller for regional response. This used to be automatic, now we have to
apply.
Tommy Batson suggested creating a roundup event of equipment, services and volunteers that could be
offered in an emergency. Could be an inexpensive way to get to know community resources. SR&R
(Randy Wright) may have a large plot of land to host a roundup. Everyone should be exploring ideas of
equipment, services, consultants and personnel that could participate. Example: Fuel, and how to
deliver. When we become an island, how can we be more self-sufficient?
Zack Whicker would like to set up a business EOC – get to know businesses – chambers of commerce –
box stores, resources we can reach out to. Pender PIO knew the manager of Walmart and was able to
get a jumpstart on supplies.
Hurricane Facts:
120k meals prepared in first 2 weeks response.
Tommy Batson – public sector helped to keep government running.
400 people sheltered in the Government Center. County generator was loaned to a nearby restaurant
to provide food for those sheltered. World Central Kitchen was a great resource. Work to build
partnerships ahead of time.
October 1st – start of grant application. Teresa asked everyone to email or phone in thoughts.
GE – every 2 years NRC Inspection
Tier II reporting facilities Jan-March to Teresa – ePlans.
If Tier II data is entered into ePlan, there is no need to send to Teresa. She has access to ePlan. Some
counties have not adopted ePlan.
Ogden Fie Station opening in mid-Feb. Ribbon cutting in March.
Motion to adjourn – agreed and seconded.
Sub-Committee Breakout Summaries: N/A
LEPC Committees: Need more people on committees – call to donate time to develop trainings. Plans
– maybe develop workshops between exercises bring in speakers.
Executive Committee
Chairman- Teresa Smith
Vice-Chairman- Eric Hatcher
Secretary- Jodie Ruskin
Emergency Planning & Response Sub-Committee:
Chairman- Eric Hatcher
Members: Michael Thompson, Steve Mason, Frank Meyer, Dustin Stream, Billy Howard,
Thomas Johnson, Marchele Evans, Heather Griffin
Next LEPC Meeting:
March 13, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Northeast Library, Long Leaf Room.