Linking With Your Community’s Emergency Planning Program Capt. Gerry Mahoney LEPC Coordinator City of Cambridge

History of LEPC Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) Also known as SARA Title III. Result of two incidents. Bhopal, India 1984, killed 1,700 people. Institute, WV 1985, several hundred injured.

LEPC Makeup Public Safety Public Health Public Works Dept. Water Dept. Public Schools Universities Private Industry Emergency Management Media

Mandates of the Law A planning committee must be established within communities to plan for potential releases. The committee must be comprised of both public and private sector representatives. Facilities that meet certain threshold reporting requirements must report their inventories annually.

P roject your needs L earn about your agency A wareness of other agencies N etwork among agencies

Working with other agencies Fire Departments Public Health Public Works Teamwork in an emergency is critical. There is no “I” in emergency!

Working with other agencies How does each agency interact? Know the players Discuss potential scenarios Ask for help

“Know the rules before the game!” The emergency or crisis is not the time to find out who has what responsibilities!

Universities “role in the plan” Assist us with technical expertise and training. Identify problems and develop solutions for their communities. Can serve as a “mentor” to smaller businesses in the community in planning assistance.

Current LEPC Items in Cambridge Harvard and MIT have come together to work with Cambridge Public Schools to address Laboratory safety. Re-writing the existing HMERP to make it a more user friendly document. Assessing our needs and capabilities.

Working With the Universities The universities provide a challenge as well as a resource. It is important to establish a cooperative relationship. The universities are like a “city within a city.”