Emergency Management secures HAZMAT and EMPG grants; commissioners approve mutual‑aid pacts

Samantha Rhodehamel, Jay County Emergency Management director, told the commissioners Dec. 9 that her office received an $18,300 HAZMAT emergency planning grant to fund hazardous materials training for dispatchers, law enforcement and first responders and consulting costs for the 2025 Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) exercise. She also reported an EMPG salary grant of $29,213.05.

Rhodehamel described recent trainings on warning and effective messaging, damage assessment and HDC patient networks, and said Emergency Management helped with Progressive Agriculture Day (about 400 sixth- and seventh-grade students) and the Portland Fire Department Safety Day. She reported the LEPC after-action report was submitted to the state and will be reviewed by the committee this week; corrective-action work following a recent tornado is ongoing and she hopes to incorporate that training into the 2025 LEPC exercise.

Rhodehamel presented a Homeland District 6 mutual‑aid agreement covering Jay and neighboring counties; the county attorney had already reviewed it and commissioners approved the agreement unanimously. Commissioners also approved an interstate mutual‑aid agreement with Mercer County and Rhodehamel said she plans to draft a similar agreement with Darke County. Rhodehamel said equipment from Rescue 19 already transferred to other entities and remaining items will be included in the next county auction; she will provide commissioners with a list of remaining items.