Local Emergency Planning Committees
While each facility is primarily responsible for accident prevention, local government agencies, emergency responders and Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) also play important roles in keeping communities healthy and safe. Local emergency responders work together to prepare communities for potential hazmat accidents by:
- Coordinating emergency response activities of regulated facilities with the community's plan
- Sharing chemical risk information with public
- Updating community emergency preparedness activities
To keep residents - and those who protect them - safe, the state allows qualified representatives from emergency response agencies to have quick access to chemical inventory information for their respective jurisdictions through E-Plan. Click here to create an E-Plan account and request first responder access.
Additional guidance is available from the EPA to strengthen community preparedness. This resource is helpful for new members of local and tribal organizations with EPCRA responsibilities and community information for chemical accidents.
Resources
LEPC Hazardous Material Resources from NCEM – LEPC and Emergency Manager resources available from the NCEM Hazardous Materials Team
Hazmat Worst Case Tool – NCEM offers PEAC-WEB application software for emergency managers and local responders. The software has EPCRA Tier II facilities and hazmat transportation in NC and can be used for planning, exercises, and actual chemical releases
National Association of SARA Title III Program Officials – Information on state and local EPCRA implementation. Guidance is available for grant writing, planning and exercise, and regulatory compliance
NASTTPO Measuring Progress of LEPCs – A guide for measuring progress in chemical safety for LEPCs
Local Hazardous Materials Commodity Flow Studies – Transportation Research’s Guidebook for Conducting Hazardous Material Flow Studies
Chemical Exposure and Medical Resources
NCDHHS Chemical Radiation Preparedness – N.C. Public Health planning for chemical or radiological events
HHS Pre-hospital Patient Decontamination – U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guides on caring for chemically exposed patients at the incident scene
NCOEMS Healthcare Preparedness Program – N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services program for partnership between healthcare and emergency response organizations. OEMS provides trainings that can be tailored to chemicals in the local community
NCDHHS Chemical Release Investigation Kit – N.C. Public Health step-by-step guide for local health departments to respond to chemical incidents and chemical factsheets.