White County prepare for hazmat situation

WHITE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Emergency responders take the first steps in dealing with a potential hazardous spill or release in White County. The White County Emergency Planning Committee invited emergency officials to a meeting at IU Health White Memorial Hospital Wednesday to start developing an emergency operating center if a hazmat situation were to ever happen in the county.

"We want to get them together to work as a until so we have the synergy we need as an organization," Committee Chairman Brad Gervais said. "When an agency is helping another agency they'll know what is happening at one scene, and be able to help with another. It all comes together, and we become more powerful that way."

Gervais said because of White County's mixture of farms and factories, it makes it vulnerable for a hazmat situation.

"Different farms have ammonia hydroxide," Gervais said "Some of the factories around here have different chemicals for their products."

Gervais hopes people at the meeting leave with an understanding about how everyone in the emergency management community play a vital role.

"Police are going to show up for the initial problem," Gervais said. "But with chemicals, it could go up and evaporate into the air, and there are downwinds hazards, which could affect the people and farm and pets. Plus explosion and fire hazards depending on the type of chemicals."

Up next is physical hazmat training. Gervais said that will begin in January.