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Clovis LEPC reviews storm response, public-health alerts and emergency exercises
Summary
At a March meeting of the Local Emergency Planning Committee, local emergency managers, public-safety chiefs and utility and health representatives reviewed recent windstorm response, discussed an expired StormReady designation and upcoming exercises, and flagged regional measles and local rabies cases.
Clovis' Local Emergency Planning Committee met to review local storm response and preparedness work, hear updates on public-safety planning and exercises, and receive public-health and utility briefings.
Emergency Manager Ruth Ann Kelly opened the meeting by noting coordination needs for the LEPC membership roster and by saying the city’s StormReady community application with the National Weather Service has expired and must be renewed. Kelly said renewal requires more documentation than in past cycles and stressed that the designation depends on multiple communication channels to get information to first responders and the public.
Kelly also summarized the community's response to the recent high-wind event. She said incident logs recorded 16 calls for wires or poles down, three tractor-trailers overturned and one incident that prompted the hospital to implement a mass-casualty protocol. Kelly said the jurisdiction has an outstanding application to the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which supports renewal of the local hazard mitigation plan.
Clovis Fire Chief Mike Nolan asked the LEPC to consider forming an advisory committee to review the fire department’s planning, operations and budgeting. Nolan said the group could offer outside perspectives and help identify high fire-load areas — including weeds, unsecured debris and trees — that become hazards in high wind. "I would freely share my financials with you and take any of your advice as to what we plan in the future," Nolan said.
Captain Romero of the Clovis Police Department urged attendees to report unusual behavior or suspicious traffic involving hazardous cargo, saying local law enforcement and fire personnel have resources such as SCBAs and Tyvek available for chemical incidents. Romero also briefed the group on an animal found to be rabid on the east side of Clovis and urged pet vaccinations. He said the animal was recovered inside a doghouse.
Curry County Health and Wellness representative Kimberly Richter reported statewide measles activity and underscored vaccination as prevention. Richter said New Mexico had 38 cases at the time discussed, concentrated among people 18 and younger, and reviewed early measles symptoms and guidance for when to seek emergency care.
Patrick Lucero, community-relations representative from Xcel Energy, described two utility measures used during high-wind events: public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) and enhanced power-line safety settings (EPSS). Lucero said EPSS prevents automatic reclosing of breakers on lines that experience faults during high winds so crews must patrol lines for damage before reenergizing them. He asked residents and emergency staff to report pole or line damage and said a PSPS map is available on xlenergy.com. "So we're taking the public safety part pretty serious at this point," Lucero said.
Cannon Air Force Base representatives said the base experienced minor wind damage, about one roof blown off, and reported about 96 related calls during the storm period. The base plans active-shooter and mass-casualty exercises and said it will participate in community exercises planned for August and September.
The committee discussed planned exercises with BNSF and other partners, including a tabletop and a full-scale exercise tentatively scheduled for August–September and a separate airport exercise that will require Transportation Security Administration coordination.
Administrative business included approval of minutes from the Nov. 20 meeting. Sarah Willeford moved to approve the minutes with the correction to her name; Travis Martin seconded. The minutes were approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded.
Kelly closed by noting the next LEPC meeting will be May 21 at 3 p.m. in the North Annex and adjourned at about 3:45 p.m.
Ending: The meeting combined routine administrative items with detailed discussion of storm lessons learned, public-health alerts and an accelerated exercise schedule; officials emphasized vaccination, reporting downed lines and participation in upcoming exercises as primary next steps.
