Cabarrus Emergency Management collaborates on disaster readiness
Published on December 11, 2024
On a recent afternoon, a visible anhydrous ammonia leak was reported at a food processing plant in Concord. The release grew rapidly, forcing company personnel and local emergency crews to determine next steps for notification, evacuation and mitigation.
Luckily, that scenario didn’t really happen. Instead, it played out as a training exercise for more than 50 participants from the Cabarrus County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
In November, Cabarrus County Emergency Management staged the LEPC event and another tabletop exercise for the local Shelter Task Force. Both exercises were held at the Cabarrus County EMS Headquarters on Cabarrus Avenue.
The goals of the two exercises were simple: To evaluate readiness for disasters and determine the roles each organization takes on in the response, according to Cabarrus County Emergency Management Planner Cole Whitehurst.
Anhydrous ammonia leak: Local Emergency Planning Committee
The ammonia leak exercise, held on November 6, was the first of its kind for the LEPC. During the tabletop, the group assessed potential responses to the simulated 13-hour situation. The leak expanded in scope and LEPC members had to mitigate further exposure and damage through effective notification, response and recovery actions.
“When it comes to success, getting people together is critical,” said Whitehurst, who’s over the LEPC. The exercise identified gaps, and “these are areas that will be improved to ultimately help the County in the event of similar emergencies.”
Mallard Creek Polymers Environmental Health and Safety Manager Jens Schoenfuss was one of many local business representatives who took part in the exercise. He also helped develop the scenario and will serve as the 2025 LEPC chairman.
“The LEPC is an excellent collaboration among local industries and all emergency responders,” Schoenfuss said. “The (tabletop) teams did a fantastic job working together and we identified learning opportunities.”
The LEPC consists of municipal and county emergency responders as well as community and business representatives like Schoenfuss. Every quarter, the LEPC convenes to provide training and resources on:
- Handling emergency situations
- Effectively coordinating with local emergency response agencies
- Starting and continuing emergency response planning
- Understanding OSHA regulations
The LEPC also oversees the reporting of hazardous chemicals and extremely hazardous substances that local businesses and organizations have onsite, also known as Tier II reporting as outlined in the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986.
The LEPC quarterly meetings are open to the public. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5 at noon in the Multipurpose Room (second floor) of the Government Center in downtown Concord (65 Church St. S). For more information, contact Whitehurst at ctwhitehurst@cabarruscounty.us.
Tropical storm flooding: Shelter Task Force
Shelter Task Force participants faced a scenario where a tropical storm caused heavy rainfall throughout the area, leading to severe flooding that affected residents’ homes and access to them. The tabletop, held November 14, took the group through first steps, like determining how stakeholders collaborate to assess the need for activation of a shelter, all the way through the final stages of completing the shelter demobilization process.
The exercise was the first step in testing the Cabarrus County Sheltering Standard Operating Guidelines and promoting a state of readiness for shelter operations.
“We had overwhelmingly positive results,” said Emergency Management Planner Dawn Gustafson, who’s over the Shelter Task Force. “We got great feedback that we’ll use moving forward. The discussion was lively and took longer than anticipated, which is a good problem to have.”
That collaborative spirit was echoed by participants.
“The tabletop clearly demonstrated our county’s strength in collaboration to serve the needs of our community,” said CHA Public Health Preparedness Manager Amy Potoczny, one of 14 CHA staff members who participated in the tabletop.
American Red Cross Community Disaster Program Manager Will Cannon agreed.
The exercise “demonstrated the strength and efficacy of building collaborative partnerships among interdisciplinary groups so that the community is ready to respond to any potential future disaster,” said Cannon.
The Cabarrus County Shelter Task Force, comprised of stakeholders from municipalities, Cabarrus County departments, state organizations, health services and non-governmental organizations, began the process of evaluating sheltering capabilities at the end of 2023.
The group took on the role of improving congregate sheltering operations in Cabarrus, leading to the development of the guidelines, which provides a manual for shelter operations.
Both the LEPC and Shelter Task Force tabletops are part of Emergency Management’s ongoing efforts to broaden efforts with community partners. Gustafson said that future exercise requests are coming in rapidly, and the department is looking forward to growing their efforts with two scenario-driven exercises planned for next year. Those will provide a simulated environment that mimics real-world experiences, she added.
Emergency preparedness resources for residents
While the County remains focused on larger-scale emergency preparedness efforts, residents can start their own journeys right from their homes. Whitehurst recommends the following resources to get started and stay informed:
- Ready NC (https://www.readync.gov/): Provides emergency information including power outages, evacuation routes and weather conditions
- Ready.gov (https://www.ready.gov/): Provides planning advice, supply kit recommendations and hazard-specific preparatory strategies that aid individuals in creating individual and family emergency plans
- American Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class): Offers both in-person and online training in live-saving skills such as first aid and CPR
Residents can follow EM’s efforts and get tips on additional resources via the County’s Facebook page (@CabarrusCounty).
About Cabarrus County Emergency Management
Emergency Management helps protect lives and preserve property in Cabarrus County by preparing a plan of action to respond effectively and expeditiously to emergencies, disasters and hazards of all types, thereby preventing or mitigating the effects on people and property through the application of protective measures.
They employ the four phases of comprehensive emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.