SCOTT COUNTY OFFICIALS READY FOR EMERGENCIES0

BENTON -- Should there ever be an emergency or accident involving hazardous materials, 911 officials and members of the Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee wants Scott County residents to be prepared.

And living in a farming area means there are lots of potentially hazardous chemicals in the county. The Bootheel Local Emergency Planning Committee (BLEPC) works in conjunction with Scott County officials in case of accidents.

"Living in a farming area like we are, there are farming chemicals like ammonia nitrate and plants that store that," said Joe Burton, 911 administrator for Scott County.

There is also propane and gasoline hauled and stored in the county, "not to mention the railroad lines and the interstates," he said.

But with every danger that people recognize, there are many more that they aren't aware of, Burton warns.

"A very large gas pipeline runs through the county carrying everything from jet fuel to propane and regular gasoline," he said. "A lot of hazardous materials are here, no different than any other county."

But what is different is that Burton has been updating plans for how to deal with any sort of chemical or hazardous material disaster in the county. Plans are filed with the state of Missouri and updated every three years.

Now any building that houses hazardous materials must register with Burton and the BLEPC. Burton hopes to cross-reference that information with computer databases to pinpoint how many people would be affected should a chemical spill or other emergency occur.I

A new Emergency Alert System connects the 911 center with local broadcasters to spread word of such an emergency, when or if it occurs.

In case of a hazardous materials emergency, residents would be notified by police or firefighters. For more information about how to prepare for such emergencies or information about the BLEPC, contact Burton at 262-2070.