LaRae Dobbs

Mailing Address:
355 East 5th Street
Lovell, WY 82431

Email: larae.dobbs@bighorncountywy.gov 
Phone: 307-548-2516
Fax: 307-548-2517

Wyoming Region 6 Hazard Mitigation Plan - Public Review Draft
Washakie, Hot Springs, Park and Big Horn Counties

This plan is the product of a 2021 planning process undertaken by the four counties in the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming Region 6 – Big Horn, Park, Hot Springs and Washakie. The purpose is to meet the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (PL 106-390), and thereby maintain continued eligibility for certain Hazard Mitigation – or disaster loss reduction – programs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This plan updates the 2016 Region 6 Hazard Mitigation Plan including each county annex for Big Horn, Hot Springs, Washakie and Park counties and sets priorities for mitigation in the Region for the time period of 2022-2027.

The plan can be viewed at https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Xwqu1mSvpgWvvr0U0kW-RaZJRNv2bvqT?usp=sharing and comments can be made at https://forms.office.com/r/sWCu0xVuaS

Definition

Emergency management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters.

Vision

Emergency management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters.

Mission

Emergency Management protects communities by coordinating and integrating all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the capability to mitigate against, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, orother man-made disasters.

Principles

Emergency Management must be:

1. Comprehensive —emergency managers consider and take into account all hazards,all phases, all stakeholders and all impacts relevant to disasters.

2. Progressive —emergency managers anticipate future disasters and take preventiveand preparatory measures to build disaster-resistant and disaster-resilient communities.

3. Risk-Driven —emergency managers use sound risk management principles (hazardidentification, risk analysis, and impact analysis) in assigning priorities and resources.

4. Integrated —emergency managers ensure unity of effort among all levels of governmentand all elements of a community.

5. Collaborative —emergency managers create and sustain broad and sincererelationships among individuals and organizations to encourage trust, advocate ateam atmosphere, build consensus, and facilitate communication.

6. Coordinated —emergency managers synchronize the activities of all relevantstakeholders to achieve a common purpose.

7. Flexible —emergency managers use creative and innovative approaches in solvingdisaster challenges.

8. Professional —emergency managers value a science and knowledge-based approachbased on education, training, experience, ethical practice, public stewardship andcontinuous improvement.

Regional 6 Hazard Mitigation Plan

Plan documents can be accessed below:

Big Horn County Community Wildfire Protection Plan

Click to Download the Plan

Big Horn Basin Firesmart

Firesmart Website Link

In 1987, the Wyoming State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) was created through executive order. Among the SERC's duties were designating local emergency planning districts within the state and appointing a local emergency planning committee (LEPC) to serve each district. LEPCs are required to develop an emergency response plan, review it annually, and provide information about chemicals in the community to citizens.

LEPC membership must include the following (at a minimum):

• Elected state and local officials
• Police, fire, civil defense and public health professionals
• Environment, transportation and hospital officials
• Facility representatives
• Representatives from community groups and the media

Mission Statement

The mission of the Big Horn County LEPC is to comply with the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA) under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA); EPCRA is commonly known as SARA Title III. We are unique in that we are a multifaceted tool and forum for all emergency responders and their respective agencies/departments; for industry, local governments, health and welfare, school districts, and other concerned organizations or individual citizens; that will enable us to identify, plan for, mitigate, coordinate training, and respond to all incidents which may include: hazardous materials accidents and/or releases, wild land and other types of fire, natural disasters which may include flooding, tornados, severe storms, and earthquakes; highway and rail transportation accidents, terrorist activity, and civil disturbances which could affect the overall health and well being of the citizens of our county.

• The LEPC will also be the advising agency for Homeland Security Grant Funds as directed by and to the Big Horn County Commissioners.
• The LEPC will also act as the Citizen Corp Council and will be NIMS/ICS and NRP compliant.
• The LEPC is operated by the active membership as an open forum to know each other individually, to know each other's equipment and capabilities.
• The LEPC is committed to the safety of the county by ensuring and identifying proper resources and planning needed for any type of emergency, and by providing leadership and support to reduce the loss of life and property from all types of hazards, through an emergency management program of preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery.

Responsibilities

• Identify facilities using hazardous materials
• Identify transportation routes being used for hazardous materials shipment
• Describe emergency response procedures
• Designate community and facility coordinators
• Outline emergency notification procedures
• Describe methods for determining the occurrence of a release
• Describe community and industry emergency equipment and facilities
• Outline emergency evacuation plans
• Identify special risk facilities (i.e., hospitals, nursing homes, schools, etc.)
• Describe a training program for emergency response personnel
• Review methods and schedules for training exercises
• Review Emergency Operations Plans (specifically the Hazardous Materials Response Plan in Volume B of the County Emergency Operations Plan) regularly
• Make information available to the public in accordance with Community Right-to-Know legislation
• Ensure all facilities required to submit Tier II reports are submitting such reports
• Keep the State Emergency Response Commission advised of LEPC activities
• Conduct public meetings at least twice a year
• Recommend disbursement of grant funds
• Act as Citizen Core Council (CERT) for Big Horn County
• Will be compliant with NIMS, ICS, NRP Plans

Meetings - 2020 Schedule

Click Here for Printable Schedule

LEPC meetings are usually held on the 4th Thursday of the month and called to order at 7:00pm, unless otherwise noted below.

Committee Officers

Chairman: Dave Neves, Commissioner

Vice-Chairman: Ken Blackburn, Sheriff

Treasurer: LaRae Dobbs, Emergency Management Coordinator

Secretary: Keela Mangus

Subcommittees

• Budget & Finance
• Communications
• Court Room Security
• Exercise
• 911 - Communications/Mapping
• Safe Schools
• THIRA
• Tier II
• Weather Alert & Action