The Unified Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) serves as the umbrella organization for all-hazard emergency planning efforts within Bellingham and Whatcom County. LEPC activities are organized and administered by Bellingham's Office of Emergency Management and the Division of Emergency Management in the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office. Quarterly meetings are held and membership is open to all: individuals, businesses, and agencies.
To apply for membership, please contact the Office of Emergency Management.
The LEPC has convened, or participates in, the following working groups related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery:
Training and Exercise: works to coordinate community-wide training and exercise needs. Current three-year emergency exercise plan (PDF)
Public Education: assesses needs, plans, develops, and delivers messages targeted to improving levels of personal, family, and community disaster preparedness.
Hazardous Materials: focused on hazardous materials storage and emergency response.
Public Information Officers: group of communication professionals organized to develop and deliver messages to the public during large-scale emergencies and disasters.
Mass Care: plans to provide evacuation, sheltering, feeding, supply distribution, and family reunification during disasters.
Disaster Health Care Coalition: focused on improving the surge capacity of the local health care system to meet increased needs during disaster events.
Pandemic Preparedness: multi-agency effort to improve community resiliency to the effects of a worldwide flu Pandemic.
2009 meeting dates are January 27, April 28, September 22, and November 24. All meetings are slated to be held between 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the St. Luke’s Health Education Center (3333 Squalicum Parkway) unless specified otherwise.
The LEPC serves as the point of community contact for the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and provides oversight of hazardous chemical inventories within the community. More information on EPCRA is available on the Washington State Department of Ecology website.
