Tag Archives: lepc

Wareham Police Receives LEPC Certification.

Posted on

On February 1, 2013, Chief Richard Stanley, Chairman of the Wareham Local Emergency Planning Committee, was notified by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) that the Wareham Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) application for full Certification had been approved by the State Emergency Response Commission.

The Wareham Local Emergency Planning Committee is comprised of all emergency response agencies and town officials in Wareham, who plan for emergency situations and disasters in a cooperative team effort to provide the best response and services possible during crisis situations. Along with creating an All Hazards Response Plan for natural disasters, storms, and other major events, the LEPC is also responsible for compiling data on chemicals and hazardous materials in the community and integrating that data into response plans. Although required by law, a LEPC has never been officially organized in Wareham until now.

Doug Forbes, who is the MEMA local coordinator, commended the Wareham Emergency Planning Committee in achieving full certification, adding, “The Wareham certification application and plan were among the best that I have reviewed in my 28 years with MEMA. I would like to especially thank Chief Richard Stanley and Lt. John Walcek for their hard work and dedication while leading their committee to this most important achievement.”

Participants in the LEPC include the Wareham Police Department, Wareham Fire Department, Onset Fire Department, Harbormaster Department, Board of Health, Wareham Emergency Medical Service, Municipal Maintenance, Tobey Hospital, and the Plymouth County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition.

Chief Richard Stanley praised all of the emergency agency representatives whose coordinated efforts were instrumental in the Certification of the Wareham LEPC, making Wareham one of a select group of towns to achieve Certification status, which will ultimately lead to better and more efficient preparedness and response actions during crisis situations in Wareham.

Chief Richard Stanley chaired a meeting at the Wareham Multi-Service Center to establish a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

Posted on

On February 15, 2012, Chief Richard Stanley, Emergency Management Director (EMD) for the Town of Wareham, chaired a meeting at the Wareham Multi-Service Center to establish a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).

 

Among those present was Douglas Forbes Jr., Region II Local Coordinator for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) who facilitated the meeting. Other attendees present were representatives of public safety for the Town of Wareham that included the Wareham Fire Department, Onset Fire Department, Harbormaster, Board of Health, EMS, Municipal Maintenance, Plymouth County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coalition, and Local Media for WCTV.

 

Also present were two student interns from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy who are majoring in Emergency Management. Jeremy Letson and Kyle Steek have been working diligently for Chief Stanley collecting data for the town’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), a prerequisite for the LEPC to be certified.

 

The members of the LEPC voted unanimously to appoint Chief Richard M. Stanley as Chairman, Wareham Firefighter Patrick Haskell, Vice Chairman, and Health Agent Robert Ethier as Secretary Treasurer.

 

It is crucial that the public receive accurate and timely information and instructions concerning impending and occurring disasters and emergencies. It is also extremely important that programs be in place to train and educate the public on disaster preparedness long before any emergency or disaster occurs. A meeting will be held in the upcoming months to describe the program to the general public.

 

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief Stanley stated, “ My goal is to have a model Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan in place that other communities in Massachusetts will look to as being the best of the best. I am confident that with the team I have in place, that goal will soon be a reality.