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Oct. 10, 2007
For immediate release
For more information, contact:
Tammy Snodgrass or Bonnie J. Prigge, (573) 265-2993
REGIONAL EMERGENCY PLANNING COMMITTEE
AWARDS TRAINING GRANTS TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS
ST. JAMES—The Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee awarded $3,000 of training funds to Meta Fire and Rescue, Sullivan Fire Protection District and Dent County Fire and Rescue during its regular quarterly meeting on Sept. 26 at the Meramec Regional Planning Commission in St. James.
Meta Fire and Rescue will use its grant for a hazardous materials refresher course for firefighters while Sullivan and Dent County will conduct a hazardous materials awareness and operations class.
This fiscal year, MREPC has set aside $7,000 for grants to fire departments in Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Osage and Washington counties. The maximum grant request was set at $1,000, and no match is required.
In other business, the committee learned that Missouri Emergency Response Commission (MERC), headed by former MREPC Chairman Dawn Warren, has been contacting facilities that have not been reporting, which should result in increased funding for the committee. Companies who store certain hazardous materials at certain thresholds are required to report those materials to MERC, the MREPC and local fire departments. There is a filing fee attached to the state report, with part of those funds returned to local emergency planning committees to comply with planning provisions of the federal law.
While a slight funding increase is anticipated, the committee also discussed the need to create a reserve fund for future funding shortfalls and decided to develop a written policy that would recommend a three-to-six month reserve fund. The committee discussed the need to use the money for the intended purpose, such as hazardous materials training, but felt it was prudent to plan ahead to ensure a continuum of service should funds decrease or be delayed.
Emergency response agencies were provided copies of the updated plan during the meeting.
The Meramec Regional Emergency Planning Committee periodically coordinates and offers education and training opportunities for emergency responders in the region. The purpose of the committee is to work with local governments as well as the private sector to maintain plans responsive to chemical hazards that seriously threaten the area.
The committee, lead by Chairman Kraig Bone of Washington County, meets quarterly, and meetings are open to the public. Persons needing more information the MREPC or chemicals in the region may contact MRPC at (573) 265-2993. The planning commission, a voluntary council of local governments serving the Meramec Region, provides staff support for the local emergency planning committee.
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