Jefferson County EMA Year in Review
Jan. 09--MT. VERNON--The abilities of the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency were challenged in 2011 with both preparedness drills and real-life emergencies.
Steve Lueker, deputy coordinator for the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency, said the agency was activated to give mutual aid assistance in Alexander County after flooding early last year.
Mt. Vernon Fire Department Assistant Chief Kevin Sargent and Lueker, both part of the state emergency response team, traveled to Alexander County to help with communications. Lueker said he helped with mapping and tallying the damage caused by the flooding.
In addition, the JCEMA responded after the tornado in Boyd on May 25.
The organization serves as the agency with which IEMA communicates during an emergency, Lueker said.
"If we had requested or needed state resources, we are the local agency that would have come through," he explained.
One major effort conducted by the JCEMA was participating in a statewide disaster preparedness drill from Nov. 15 through the 17th.
"We started going to meetings on that in 2008, before I was even officially involved with the JCEMA," Lueker said. "We had meetings and trainings that cumulated what was supposed to take place, and then with the flooding, Illinois backed out of the nationwide drill."
Lueker said the drill tested the capabilities of local fire departments, the sheriff's office, road district supervisors and the county highway department, the Red Cross, and local Community Emergency Response Teams.
He said about 30 people were involved from day to day in the drill.
"We did the exercise based on three different ways of communication," Lueker said. "We used amateur radio, and we also communicated through the telephone, where they would give us scenarios. We also did faxes. We hadn't thought about faxes, and we were concerned about that, but they got it hooked up pretty fast."
Lueker said there was a fire alarm at the courthouse during the drill, and it was interesting to have a real emergency during the statewide drill.
"I think we learned a lot," he said. "We've not got the final report back yet."
The organization started several initiatives in 2011, one of which continues to be developed.
The Tactical Interoperability Communication Plan, created in cooperation with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force, is a project to ensure all first responders and emergency agencies can communicate with one another, Lueker said.
Lueker said the goal is to find consistent radio communication between and among local law enforcement, fire, hospitals, ambulance service and the JCEMA.
He said the effort to streamline radio communication between emergency agencies is a national effort, not just a local endeavor.
The JCEMA also started work on a Hazard Mitigation Grant in 2011, Lueker said.
"Hopefully we'll be doing some more work downstairs in the operating center, expanding the facility and creating a safe room for the courthouse," he said.
A new truck is budgeted for in the Jefferson County budget this year, Lueker said.
Lueker said all the volunteers and staff of the JCEMA continue to attend training for emergency situations.
"I hope we can proved to be an agency who can provide the services the community needs when they need them," he said. "I hope nothing ever happens where we really have to be involved."
Copyright 2012 - Mt. Vernon Register-News, Ill.
