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State and local emergency officials gathered June 12 at Lurleen BW Community College’s Wendell Mitchell Conference Center to reestablish the Butler County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), aimed at enhancing community preparedness for chemical hazards and severe weather events.

Rosie Till, Butler County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director, led the meeting with presentations by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the National Weather Service (NWS).

“The goal is to improve local emergency planning, ensure public access to information on chemical hazards and strengthen coordination among government, industry and communities,” Till said.

The LEPC, mandated under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, is a local collaboration of emergency responders, government officials, public health experts, facility representatives and community members. Till noted that while Butler County doesn’t have a high concentration of chemical facilities, its location along U.S. Intersate Highway 65 and active railway lines increases transportation-related risks. 

“In Butler County, we don’t have just chemical hazards. We have a lot of weather hazards,” Till said. “So while this is geared up for chemicals, I want everybody to understand that it’s not just for that.”

Caleb Williams, state emergency response coordinator with AEMA, praised Butler County’s renewed effort, noting the state has been working to boost participation across all counties.

“We help coordinate LEPCs… working to help y’all get it going, finding assistance in how to start and build LEPCs so that they can stand on their own,” Williams said.

Grady Springer, Emergency Response Chief with ADEM, emphasized the importance of coordination among agencies and facilities.

“You’re a local emergency planning committee,” Springer said. “What you want to try to do is bridge the gap between your first responders, your EMA and then the facilities in the area… so first responders know what they’re walking into.”

Springer added that a significant number of spills reported to ADEM are transportation-related and can involve hazardous materials near schools or residential areas. 

“If you were to have a chemical spill… on the interstate next to the high school, then we’re going to start reaching out… and looking at if we need an evacuation or if we need to shelter in place. That’s where these planning committees come into play,” Springer said. 

Jessica Chace with the National Weather Service in Mobile rounded out the meeting, emphasizing their role in supporting emergency managers before, during and after severe weather.

“Our mission is plain and simple: protect life and property,” Chace said. “We’re here to try and mitigate as much as we possibly can.”