Fond du Lac’s Local Emergency Planning Committee looking for alternate community member

Fond du lac County is looking for an alternate member for our Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

Every county is designated as an Emergency Planning District and has a LEPC. This Committee is made up of representatives from several designated groups, including:

1. Elected officials.
2. Emergency Services, Healthcare, and Transportation.
3. Media.
4. Community Groups.
5. Owners/Operators of facilities subject to Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know (EPCRA) requirements.
   

The LEPC oversees planning and response to chemical and hazardous materials incidents as well as increasing awareness in our community of potential hazards that may exist. Training, education, and outreach are also part of the activities that the LEPC is involved in. Examples of plans that the LEPC would review and approve include:

1. EPCRA Facility Off-site Emergency Response Plans.
2. The County-Wide Sulfuric Acid Battery Plan.
3. The County-Wide Hazardous Materials Response Strategic Plan.
   

The LEPC is normally scheduled to meet quarterly on the 2nd Wednesday of February, May, August and November. Meeting schedules sometimes do change.

This person selected to fill this vacancy would be an alternate to the current committee member that represents Community Groups (Group 4) and would be subject to appointment by the County Executive and confirmation by the County Board.

An “alternate” member serves as the back-up to the main group member. If that main member is unable to attend the meeting, the alternate can fill in.

While serving in place of the committee member they are alternate for, they would count towards required meeting quorum and have voting privileges for any actions being voted on. They would be welcome to attend any meeting of the LEPC but would only vote if they were serving as the replacement to the committee member that is absent from their group. They are encouraged to attend meetings even when the main group member is in attendance.

The Community representative generally serves as the voice of ordinary residents and community organizations. Their job isn’t necessarily to respond to an emergency themselves, but to make sure the emergency plan considers what the public needs before, during, and after a hazardous-materials or other major emergency.

That can include:

• Representing residents’ concerns about emergency preparedness and response.
• Helping the committee understand how emergency information will reach the public and whether the instructions will be understandable.
• Identifying concerns about evacuation, sheltering, transportation, vulnerable populations, and public awareness.
• Participating in reviews and updates of the county’s emergency response plan.
• Helping with public education and preparedness efforts.
• Bringing community feedback back to the LEPC.
• Participating in exercises or emergency drills when appropriate.
• Helping make sure the plan considers people who may have difficulty receiving or understanding emergency information.

The Members and Alternates who serve on the LEPC are appointed to 2-year terms.

If you are interested in this opportunity or have questions, please contact Fond du Lac County Emergency Management at 920-929-2911