Emergency management director to attend training

By MEGAN COOPER

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County Emergency Management Director Walt Jackson has been approved to attend training in Maryland in order to become a trainer for classes, which employees of Henry County need.

Marc Lindeen, Henry County Board of Supervisors chairman, discussed with the board during the regular meeting Thursday what it would mean for the county if Jackson attended this training.

?The training is completely paid for, the flight, room and board, everything,? said Lindeen. ?It?s no cost to the county, so we (Henry County Emergency Management board) said he should do it. The training is in September and if he does this, he can then be a teacher of the classes in the county. It would be easier for us.?

The classes Lindeen is referring to are part of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and are a systematic, proactive approach to guide departments and agencies at all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to work together seamlessly and manage incidents involving threats and hazards ? regardless of size, cause, location or complexity ? in order to reduce loss of life, property and harm to the environment, the FEMA website stated.

The website states that the purpose of the NIMS is to provide a common approach for managing incidents. The concepts contained within provide for a flexible but standardized set of incident management practices with emphasis on common principles, a consistent approach to operational structures and supporting mechanisms and an integrated approach to resource management.

Incidents typically begin and end locally, and they are managed daily at the lowest possible geographical, organizational and jurisdictional level. There are other instances where success depends on the involvement of multiple jurisdictions, levels of government, functional agencies and/or emergency-responder disciplines, the website states.

These instances necessitate effective and efficient coordination across this broad spectrum of organizations and activities. By using NIMS, communities are part of a comprehensive national approach that improves the effectiveness of emergency management and response personnel across the full spectrum of potential threats and hazards (including natural hazards, terrorist activities and other human-caused disasters) regardless of size or complexity, stated the FEMA website.

According to what Lindeen learned at the Emergency Management board meeting, if Jackson attends this training in September, then he will be qualified to teach these classes that would be beneficial to Henry County.

Shelly Barber, Henry County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections, discussed with the board an issue about the bulk dumpster at the central waste site with the board.

?In May, or something like that, the bulk dumpster was removed,? explained Barber. ?We used to have certain days scheduled where people could bring bulk items in, but a dumpster was placed out there and it was open for dumping. People have been abusing this though and putting items in there that shouldn?t be in there.

?The bulk dumpster is now removed and there will be set days again for bulk items. On July 25 and 26, the central site will be open for the dumping of bulk items, like rolled up carpet, couches, etc. I feel that if we didn?t do this, people would start dumping items in our ditches, considering there was no where to take the items. The drop-off will be for Henry County residents and just at that site,? said Barber.

The board also:

? Approved the second reading to amend county code 6-1-2-1 exempting property line adjustments from re-subdivision replat.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors will meet again in regular session on Tuesday, July 22, at 9 a.m. in the board room at the courthouse.