Welcome to the Weston County Homeland Security Webpage
Weston County,
This is your source for emergency preparedness information specifically tailored for the residents of Northeast Wyoming. It is meant to help you, your family, and local businesses and organizations to prepare for emergency situations likely to occur in this area. If you still have questions, feel free to call the numbers listed above. Prepare for the worst, but always hope for the best.
Doug Jorrey
Becky Hadlock
Important Dates
24 May 2012: SkyWarn Weather Spotter Training, 7PM, Newcastle Fire Hall
25 July 2012: LEPC Meeting, 7PM, Osage Fire Hall
Mission
The Weston County Homeland Security Office is responsible for coordinating the planning and preparation between first response organizations in Weston County for community-wide emergency situations.
We are also responsible for providing information to the citizens of Weston County that will help them prepare for emergency situations.
Emergency Preparedness
 Emergency incidents and disasters strike
with little or no warning. If that happens here in Weston County, local emergency
responders will likely be overloaded in trying to gain control of the situation and treating the injured. If you are not
severely injured, you need to be prepared to survive unaided for the first 72 hours.
You have a choice-
Be part of the problem, or…
Be part of the solution.
If you want to be part of the solution, here are some tips to help you:
- Gather Relevant Information- Collect information that will help focus your emergency preparations.
- Create an Emergency Plan- Advance preparation will save time and avoid mistakes in an emergency situation.
- Stock an Emergency Supply Kit- When disaster strikes, you won’t be able to shop for life saving necessities.
- Learn Basic Survival Skills- You are the real first responder!
I. Emergency Information. Gather relevant information that will help you create an effective plan and assemble an appropriate supply kit. Start the process by calling your local Homeland Security Office.
- Find out which emergency incidents and disasters are most likely to occur in the county and NE Wyoming.
- Learn how you will be warned of an emergency.
- Become familiar with local evacuation routes.
- Learn about emergency plans at your workplace and where your kids attend school, including day care.
- Ask about special assistance for elderly or disabled persons.
Hazards in Weston County
 Weston County is vulnerable, by varying degrees, to the effects of a variety of natural and manmade hazards. The most likely natural threats, in order of relative probability, are severe weather events, wildland fire, and drought. Some of these natural threats may also occur in multiples; for example, a severe lightning storm followed by a wildland fire.The most likely manmade threats, in order of relative probability, are power failure, urban fire, hazardous material spill, and a mass casualty-fatality incident. Similar to natural threats, manmade threats may occur in multiples. They may also occur in response to a natural threat occurrence; for example, a severe winter storm may result in a widespread power failure.
Warning Systems in Weston County
A. For those of you living in Newcastle, Osage, and Upton your initial emergency warning will come from local sirens.
  Tornado or HAZMAT Release: High-Low Warble
Honor Camp Escape: Continuous High-Low European
Wail All Clear: Steady Air Horn
B. For those of you living in rural Weston County, your initial emergency warning will come from the radio, preferably a NOAA weather radio.
Transmitters
Newcastle: Channel 4 [162.475]
Lead: Channel 6 [162.525]
Gillette:Channel 5 [162.500]
Weather radios are now used to transmit more than just weather alerts. They are all-hazard alert radios. If you want more information on NOAA weather radio go to http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ the initial warning, all citizens should tune their radios to KASL AM 1240 for further detailed information. This information will be provided directly from the radio station during regular business hours and via the Emergency Alert System (EAS) at all other times.
D. The county dispatch center may also use the CodeRED reverse 911 System to keep citizens informed. This system allows the dispatch center to make mass calls to targeted areas of the county. The system automatically includes all wireline phone numbers in the county. If you also want to include your cell phone number in this emergency notification database click on the CodeRED icon and follow the instructions.
II. Emergency Plan. Discuss what you have learned concerning the possibility of local emergencies and disasters. Then prepare an emergency plan, not necessarily written, but one that everyone knows and understands.
- Meet with household members and discuss how to respond to likely emergency situations, including power outages, personal injuries, and fire.
- Draw a floor-plan of your home; mark two escape routes from each room (if possible).
- Post emergency telephone numbers near telephones; and teach children how and when to call 911, police and fire.
- Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by a disaster.
- Pick two meeting places- 1) near home in case of fire and 2) outside the neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
- Keep family records in a water and fire-proof container.
III. Emergency Supplies. Assemble supplies that you or your family might need if you are required to evacuate (on short notice) or shelter-in-place (for a minimum of 72 hours). Make sure that these supplies are stored together and in a manner that makes them portable if you suddenly have to evacuate. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are the minimums for a sudden evacuation.
- Supply of Water- 1 gallon per person per day; store water in sealed, unbreakable containers; replace every 3 months.*
- Water Purification Agent- liquid chlorine bleach or purification tablets.
- Supply of Nonperishable Food and a Can Opener (non-electric)- select foods that require little or no preparation and are compact and lightweight.
- Eating Utensils- mess kit or the disposable paper-plastic variety.
- First Aid Kit- include as a minimum sterile bandages, adhesive tape, scissors, tweezers, safety razors, needles, soap, antiseptic towelettes and spray, plus a collection of non-prescription drugs.*
- Prescription Drugs- critical medications extra set of eyeglasses (as appropriate); remember to add these before evacuation.
- Battery-operated Radio- plus extra batteries.*
- Flashlight- plus extra batteries.*
- Change of Clothes- plus rain gear and sturdy, yet comfortable shoes.*
- Blanket and/or Sleeping Bag.*
- Sanitation Materials- include personal hygiene items and toilet paper.*
- Cash- a minimum of $100 in small bills.*
- Car / Truck Keys- an extra set.*
- Personal Information- for each family member include blood type, medical problems and prescriptions.*
- Important Family Documents- include wills, insurance policies, deeds, contracts, social security cards, passports, immunization records, bank and credit account numbers, and birth-marriage-death certificates; store in a portable waterproof container.
- Miscellaneous Items and Tools- include a compass, whistle, signal flare, fire extinguisher, plastic bucket with lid, pliers, wrench (to shut off household gas and water), utility knife, and a small shovel.
- Miscellaneous Supplies- include plastic sheeting and duct tape, matches in a waterproof container, plastic garbage bags, and disinfectant.
- Special Items for Infants, the Elderly, or Disabled- as appropriate.*
Emergency Preparedness Manual.*
Suggestions:
- Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.
- Keep items in air-tight plastic containers.
- Change stored water every 3 months so it stays fresh.
- Rotate your stored food every 6 months.
- Rethink your kit and family needs at least once a year. Replace batteries, update clothes.
IV. Emergency Skills. Develop personal skills to help you and your family respond to and survive a disaster.
Instruct family members on the meaning of siren sounds, and how to turn on the radio for further emergency information.
Practice evacuating your residence. Use both primary and alternate routes and gather at the chosen (nearby) meeting point. Insure that all family members, including children, understand how to respond to smoke in case of a fire.
Take a basic first aid and CPR class.
Learn how to turn off water, gas, and electricity at the main service switches/valves.
Teach children how and when to call 911 (police and fire). Also teach them how to make long distance phone calls.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)
 We in Weston County are surrounded by hazardous materials. For better or worse they are part of our daily life, in our homes and at our worksites. The community organization which provides a forum for first responders, industry, and the public to work together to evaluate, understand, and communicate chemical hazards is the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
I. Local Emergency Planning Committee.
History and Role-
- LEPC’s were established across the US by the Federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986. Originally, the Weston County LEPC was a local forum to share information about hazardous materials in the community between interested parties and to develop appropriate emergency plans in case of accidental release of these chemicals.
- In recent years the LEPC’s planning efforts have been refocused to include planning for a variety of disasters that may affect Weston County. Wildfires, tornados, hazardous material spills, and even terrorism constitute emergencies which face rural counties like our own in today’s environment. This new approach, designated as “All-Hazards” planning helps us prepare for any disaster, not just those from chemical releases.
Membership- The LEPC has members from all first response organizations in Weston County, as well as members from county and city governments, health services, the media, and local industry. All meetings are open to the public.
Meetings- The LEPC meets quarterly on the last Wednesday of January, April, July, and October at 1900 hours. The meeting locations rotate between Newcastle, Osage, and Upton. See the Important Dates section of this webpage for the location of the next LEPC meeting.
Hazardous Chemical Information-
In accordance with the Community Right-To-Know Act, local industries are required to report hazardous chemical inventories exceeding certain specified amounts to the State and LEPC’s. The LEPC is required by law to make this information available to any citizen who requests it.
II. Reporting Hazardous Chemical Inventories.
The following information is an attempt to provide a common sense summary of hazardous chemical reporting in Weston County. The detailed and legally binding regulations from which this information was extracted can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40 (Protection of Environment), Part 370 (Hazardous Chemical Reporting).
Who Must Report-
If you store, use, or produce hazardous chemicals in your facility that meet or exceed minimum thresholds you must submit a Tier II (Chemical Inventory) Report. A list of all hazardous chemicals subject to Tier II reporting can be found in EPA Publication 550-B-01-003. Threshold amounts vary depending on the type of chemical, but these amounts are explained in the same EPA Publication.
How to Report-
- You must report using EPA software titled Tier2 Submit. This software is available for free from the EPA at their website (http://www.epa.gov/oem/content/epcra/tier2.htm ). Tier2 Submit allows users to enter multiple facilities, chemicals, and contacts.
- The Weston County LEPC prefers that you submit your Tier II Reports electronically. Once you have finished your report using Tier2 Submit, click on “Create Electronic File” in the “Save As” pop up window. Then type in the name of the file. Once you have typed the file name in, click the “Save” button and then the “Done” button on the next screen. Now you can e-mail your Tier II Report to the Weston County Homeland Security Office at wchls1@rtconnect.net with “Tier2 Report” in the subject line. The Homeland Security Office will insure that your report is distributed to the County LEPC and local fire departments. Please do not mail hard copy reports.
When To Report-
Tier II Reports must be received annually by 1 March for the previous calendar year. |
