LEPC Meeting Minutes

January 6, 2010

Present: Tony Rohrwasser, SBFD; Bob Graham and David Kramer, Emergency Management; Barry Coleman, LDS Church;  Jock Johnson, PVFD; Brad Lowther, HMVFD; John Youngwirth, City Street Supt; Dave Anderson, BF Mayor; Rick Alonzo, BFPD; Kevin Greenleaf, Leatha Lockhart, Red Cross; Pat Warkentin, BFFD; Ken English, MSVFD; Tish  Lagerwey, CBP; Susan Bowman, Valence communications; Jay Baker and Sue Welch, BHS; Bill McCabe, NBFD; Dustin  Kralik, Idaho State Police; Ken Baker, Regina Sherman, Vickie Hamilton and Alan Hamilton, BVA; George Shutes, ITD; Charlie Comer and Mick Shea, US Army Corps of Engineers; Cecil Garza, Lance Dehler, John Tucker and Manuel  Figueroa of US Border Patrol; Rich Stephens and Greg Sprungl, BC Sheriff; John Moss, CCVFD.

 Next meeting: February 3, 2010 0800, Bonners Ferry Visitors Center Meeting Room

 I.            Announcements: Tony Rohrwasser brought the meeting to order at 0800.

II.            Round Table:

Dave Kramer, Emergency Management:

Bob Howard with Bonner County Emergency Management will be submitting a grant for DOT funding to have a flow study done for the 5 Northern Counties.  This will give us an idea of the hazardous materials that are coming through each of the counties.
The five Northern Counties and two tribes also are participating in the Citizen Corp. program.  We have a presentation kit available for each County that has prepared programs for different groups from 1st Responders to the Business community.  If you would like to have a presentation or would like to use the materials to give a presentation, you need to schedule with Dave Kramer.
Several members of the 1st Responder community will be attending a Winter Survival training being hosted by Priest Lake Search and Rescue and the US Air Force at Priest Lake the last weekend in January.  The class is almost full, but anyone with interest should contact David Kramer.
Bob Graham and I participate in a weekly conference call with the Weather Service.  If anyone would like to have an email of the weather slides following our conference call sent to them please send an email request to dkramer@boundarycountyid.org

Sue Welch, Idaho - Bureau, Homeland Security:

Need to put together a design team for hazmat exercises in coming year.
Need to address a table-top exercise involving the border area.
Would like to introduce a training exercise through Emergency Management
Need experienced instructors to be included on BHS Instructors List
Cost advantage in using local resources to instruct locally (no travel, per Diem, etc. expenses)
Attached is a Training Matrix that describes who needs to take which NIMS compliancy courses.
Four of the NIMS compliancy courses are available online: 
National Incident Management System (IS 700), ICS 100, ICS 200
National Response Framework (IS 800).  They can be accessed at http://www.training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp. 
The other two NIMS compliancy courses (ICS 300 and ICS 400) are only available as classroom courses.   
Information about available classroom courses in Idaho can be found at http://www.idahoprepares.com, through Dave  Kramer or through:
Sue Welch
North Region Training & Exercise Coordinator
ID Bureau of Homeland Security
600 W Prairie Avenue
Coeur d'Alene, ID 83815
Office:  208-666-6010
Cell: 208-631-4732
Email:  swelch@bhs.idaho.gov

Jay Baker, Idaho - Bureau, Homeland Security:

Don Wagner, Idaho Dept of land, is available to lead an exercise on determining the jurisdiction of personnel involved in the interface between wildland fires and structural fires.
The Boundary County Fire Chiefs have agreed they would like this presentation.

Barry Coleman, LDS:

5-week radio training class for First Responders starts early February
Daily weather and local service information available at http://www.n7mnk.com

Leatha Lockhart, American Red Cross:

Emergency Contact info on business card-sized magnet distributed (can be placed in cab of emergency vehicles)
New Red Cross contact information - must use 1-800-853-2570
Distributed Red Cross brochures : Home Care for Pandemic Flu, Description of Services and Red Cross locations in Idaho

Lance Dehler, US Border Patrol:

·         If needed, there is a dog on duty and available;

o       contact the USBP Canine unit at 1-509-353-2583

Tony Rohrwasser, SBFD:

·         2 weekend hazmat classes: Feb 20, 21 / Feb 27, 28

·         Hazmat awareness class available - contact Tony if interested in scheduling

·         Emergency Vehicle Drive Class on January 23, 24

·         South Boundary generator up and running now

·         Priest Lake Search and Rescue is hosting a Winter Survival skills training January 30-31, 2010, at Priest Lake.

o       Limited to 100 people.

·         Dave Kramer and Bob Graham involved in weather; see Dave Kramer's comments

Pat Warkentin:

·         Expressed concern that because of BF population density and the risk of hazmat spills, there should be an  emergency contact procedure for alerting residents. Various alternative emergency systems were discussed,  including and utilizing together a siren, radio broadcasting, newspaper education announcements to keep the  populace aware of emergency procedures (i.e., what use of the siren implies). Pat then introduced Charlie Comer,  US Army Corps of Engineers, from Libby, Montana.

Charlie Comer, US Army Corps of Engineers:

·         After trying various alternatives, Libby, Troy, and other local communities implemented a plan using special alarm systems combined with a radio special frequency system that give updates daily. In addition to being practical for determining local road and travel conditions, in the event of an emergency the radio broadcasts the details and instructions to enable the populace to take effective and prompt action. This system was paid for by grant money (based on the need for such a system), plus others in the community donated to create and support this emergency network. (Initial cost ballpark less than $40,000.)

·         It appears that Bonner County is trying a new service, similar to a reverse-911 (where dispatch would  automatically direct warning telephone calls to residents in a risk/hazardous area zone). It was mentioned that when power and telephone service is lost, the operation of an emergency radio frequency would still be viable  for those with battery operated radios.

III.         With no further business, Tony Rohrwasser adjourned the meeting at 0900.

Minutes submitted by J. Moss CCVFD
Attachments (1)
NIMS Compliancy Course Matrix (PDF)