GARRARD COUNTY

CSEPP/EMA NEWSLETTER

February 2008

Edited by: David East, Deputy Director/Public Information Officer

February Earthquake Preparedness Month

Statewide Drill will be

Tuesday, February 5^th at 10:07am

"DUCK, COVER & HOLD"

PLAN AND GET READY: Put together a disaster supplies kit for your home in a clearly labeled, easy-to-grab box. Include a battery-powered FM/AM/NOAA Weather Radio, flashlight, extra batteries for both, canned food, non-electric can opener, bottled water, first aid supplies (including essential medications for family), blankets and extra set of clothes.

BLUEGRASS CSEPP IPT: Chris Thomason, Director will be attending the Bluegrass IPT meeting at Carter Caves on February 5^th-7th. The final report of the October 07 CSEPP Exercise will be discussed during this meeting along with the removal 157 gallons of GB agent starting in April and planning for the CSEPP 08 exercise in October. This in addition to the usual IPT business, which addresses each Benchmark for the CSEPP program.

NATIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS IPT: The National Public Affairs IPT will be meeting in Lexington on February 4^th-6^th. This IPT is made up of PIO’s, Public Affairs Officers from all CSEPP sites, FEMA, and Army. David East,Deputy Director/PIO will be attending this meeting. He is currently an alternate for this committee for the state of Kentucky.

OPERATION SWIFT SOLUTION: This is the name of the operation that will begin in March and hopefully be concluded by June too safely remove the 157 gallons of GB from a leaking container that leaked in August 07. (Please see inclosed article for more details.)

SEVERE STORMS AWARENSS MONTH COMING IN MARCH !

STATEWIDE SEVERE STORMS PREPAREDNESS DRILL TUESDAY, MARCH 4^th 10:07am

FOR MORE INFORMATION, COMMENTS ON THE CSEPP PROGRAM CONTACT CHRIS OR DAVID AT 792-4786.

GARRARD COUNTY

CSEPP/EMA NEWSLETTER

April 2008

Edited by: David East, Deputy Director/Public Information Officer

WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE NEW GARRARD COUNTY EMA/CSEPP WEBSITE PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AT

www.garrardema.com

SEVERE WEATHER DRILL: The Statewide Severe Weather Drill was held on March 4th at 10:07am. We had 100% participation of all of our schools as usual.

PLAN AND GET READY: Put together a disaster supplies kit for your home in a clearly labeled, easy-to-grab box. Include a battery-powered FM/AM/NOAA Weather Radio, flashlight, extra batteries for both, canned food, non-electric can opener, bottled water, first aid supplies (including essential medications for family), blankets and extra set of clothes. For more information contact Chris or David.

BLUEGRASS CSEPP IPT: Chris Thomason, Director attended the Bluegrass IPT meeting at Carter Caves on February 5^th-7th. The final report of the October 07 CSEPP Exercise was discussed. He was also briefed on "Operation Swift Solution" tentatively too start in April and will last until July this is too remove 157 gallons of GB that leaked in August. Planning for the CSEPP 08 exercise in October was also started.

OPERATION SWIFT: The plan developed by ACWA, Bluegrass Chemical Activity (BGCA), Blue Grass Army Depot, U.S. Army is scheduled to start at the end of April and be finished hopefully by the end of June. This is the solution developed to safely and efficiently eliminate three (3) corroding steel containers that contain GB stored at the Blue Grass Army Depot. They have chosen to use the Chemical Agent Transfer System (CHATS), which will drain and neutralize agent GB, GB breakdown products and decontamination fluids within the containers. Once empty, they will be decontaminated, cut in two and recycled.

DEPOT INSPECTION: The Blue Grass Army Depot successfully passed its annual inspection in January by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) headquartered in the Netherlands. The group cooperates with the United Nations. This is the 12th inspection at the depot.

DELAYS WITH DESTRUCTION SITE: The Pentagon during the week of March 10th raised questions about the design of the proposed building that would destroy Kentucky's stockpile of chemical weapons, and the concerns could delay the construction of the project. The Department of Defense Explosive Safety Board has questions over the rebar, in the concrete for the walls of rooms that must be able to withstand an explosion. Resolving this issue is important as the concrete was to be poured this summer.

DON’T FORGET EARTH DAY

FREE FOOD, MUSIC AND GAMES AT THE

GARRARD COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

SATURDAY, APRIL 16TH

Family Disaster Supply Kit

A Family Disaster Supply Kit is a good way to prepare and protect your family in a disaster. This kit should contain six basics - (1) water, (2) food; (3) first aid supplies, (4) clothing and bedding, (5) tools, and (6) special items. Keep essential supplies that you need during an evacuation in an easy-to- carry container such as a large, covered trash can, a camping backpack or a duffel bag.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, COMMENTS ON THE CSEPP PROGRAM CONTACT CHRIS OR DAVID AT 792-4786.