Last Updated on June 29, 2023 by Cass County Emergency Management Agency
WALTON, IN – Koch Fertilizer was recognized on June 27 by Cass County Emergency Management Agency and area fire department representatives for funding the purchase of potentially lifesaving equipment. Koch Fertilizer, thru the Koch Companies Community Fund, worked with the Cass County Local Emergency Planning Committee to fund single gas Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) Detection meters for six of the county’s 11 fire departments.
Rocky Buffum, Chairman of the Cass County Local Emergency Planning Committee, explained this is the capstone of a bigger project. “Every year Cass County’s first responders get calls involving anhydrous ammonia. Most of them are very minor, such as odor complaints where material has dissipated before responders arrive. In other cases, over the past few years we responded to a pipeline break, an overturned nurse tank in the middle of a residential area, and a farmer who had been sprayed with an anhydrous ammonia solution when a hose failed. Responders need tools to characterize the risk and take appropriate actions to protect themselves and the citizens of the county.”
Over the past year the Local Emergency Planning Committee has worked with multiple organizations to increase detection ability and training specific to anhydrous ammonia. “In February of 2022, none of the county fire departments or even emergency management had a single anhydrous ammonia sensor on a truck. After this last round of equipment is distributed, every fire department will have a single gas sensor that can detect up to 200 parts per million (ppm), and EMA has two meters that can detect up to 15,000 ppm for personnel performing more advanced functions.” This was made possible by the Koch Grant recognized today ($1,356.00), a grant from Koch Companies Community Fund last year ($5,871.00), a state Hazardous Materials Preparedness Grant ($5,620.00) and a grant from the Andersons ($2,500). The Anderson’s Grant made the purchase of equipment for the other 5 county fire departments possible.
The Anderson’s grant also provided for focused training on Anhydrous Ammonia earlier in the year, with three sessions offered across the county. Sessions were scheduled north, central and south and organized by department mutual aid partners.
Equipment purchased serves a variety of functions in an emergency. Equipment can be used to identify safe areas for responders to operate in, to determine if protection areas for citizens need to be increased or decreased in size during releases, and to provide a more scientific approach to investigating odor complaints. This is also another tool in evaluating when a hazard has passed and areas can be reoccupied. Equipment provides one more tool in the toolbox when evaluating “unknown” calls where emergency personnel respond to a vague call with minimal information.
Buffum stated Koch has been a great partner in emergency planning and a very active member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee. Community organizations stepping forward to provide funding helps to maximize responder safety without having to ask for additional tax dollars for equipment.
The Cass County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) organizes planning, training and exercises to increase hazardous materials preparedness. LEPCs are federally mandated and state funded. Membership includes representatives from elected government officials, fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, emergency management, health and public health, industry representatives, the media, and other community groups and organizations.
SOURCE: News release from Cass County Emergency Management Agency