Do you know what this placard means on the back of a truck? You may have never noticed one but it’s the only positive result of the 1964 explosion in Marshalls Creek. Three volunteer firefighters and three bystanders were killed by an unmarked truck that caught fire on Route 209.

 Monroe County Emergency Management Director Maryellen Keegan says, "Understanding what was driving through and housed within the communities is important so that people aren’t walking into situations that could be harmful or not be able to make the decisions needed during an emergency."

Because of multiple tragedies like that happening across the world, Local Emergency Planning Commissions were started in communities including Monroe County. It’s the LEPC’s job to keep track of the hazardous materials in your area. Facilities are required to annually report what chemicals they house each year, and every three years, a commodity flow study is conducted.

Keegan says, "Really focuses on what’s being transported through our county on the roadways, through pipelines and rail."

The group that meets quarterly both virtually and in person at the Monroe County 9-1-1 Center in Snydersville is then able to be better prepared if a hazardous disaster should occur.

Keegan says, "What are we seeing, what is being reported in the community, what challenges are we facing from a hazardous materials perspective and how can we educate and better prepare the community as a whole."

The Committee also secures funding for necessary training and equipment for emergency crews in Monroe County. This hazmat response trailer is just one of the many items they purchased.

LEPC Chairman Guy Miller says, "We can tow to an area that there’s a large spill and in there we have spill booms, pads, clean up materials and things like that that the first responders may need to use."

Most of that money comes from chemical fees each facility has to pay per hazardous material.

Miller says, "The LEPC sits down and looks at these chemicals that we have in the area and our job is to plan for the unfortunate event if we have a spill."

Members include the office of emergency management, elected officials, emergency response officials and those in charge of facilities with hazardous materials. But all community members are encouraged to attend the public meetings. The next one is scheduled for May 6th at noon in Monroe County.