Drive on public roads?
Live near the Intracoastal waterway?
Fish or swim in local waters?
Breathe air?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then hazardous chemical ld threaten you and your family. Hazardous and toxic chemicals are used in processing many of the modern conveniences we use today. These chemicals do not pose a threat to us as long as they remain in their containers and their containers are properly maintained. But there always is the potential for accidents, so we must prepare ourselves by planning for emergencies.

Facilities which store, use or transport these chemicals are controlled by strict federal guidelines. These same facilities also are monitored for safety and must maintain good safety records, further reducing the potential for chemicals to escape their containers.

But we cannot completely eliminate all possibility of an accident. That's why we must prepare to deal with accidents if or when they occur.

Additional information can be obtained through the Matagorda County LEPC at 409-245-4100.

Wally and friends at the Matagorda County Community Safety Expo

The Matagorda County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) is made up of city and county elected law enforcement, fire and emergency medical officials, representatives of area industries and volunteer organizations such as the American Red Cross.

In 1986, the U.S. Congress passed a law called the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, requiring every county in the nation to form and maintain an LEPC. This group supports emergency planning for chemical hazards and provides local government and the public with information about possible chemical hazards.

In short, LEPC members are your co-workers, friends and neighbors, who prepare for emergencies which might pose health and safety hazards to Matagorda County residents. Such emergencies include releases of hazardous chemicals from any of the plants within the county or from any of the thousands of trucks, barges and railroad cars which carry them through the county during each year. But they also include natural disasters like hurricanes and tornados, as well as spills of everyday chemicals like gasoline or agricultural chemicals like pesticides.

Year round, members of the LEPC meet to discuss response plans and means of better informing the public - that's YOU - about what to do when an emergency occurs. They participate in drills at industrial plants, they help find ways to improve safety and aid the various involved organizations - police, sheriff's, fire and EMS departments, school districts and other governmental agencies, hospitals and civic and volunteer groups - work smoothly together in the event of an actual emergency.

If you see a hazardous materials emergency:

If you are notified of a chemical emergency:

Potential releases of hazardous and/or toxic materials from:

Effective teamwork among critical groups, including:

As soon as possible, a written follow-up report must be mailed and/or faxed to the Matagorda County LEPC at 409-245-5661. Under state law, some facilities may be subject to additional reporting requirements to the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission, the Texas General Land Office or the Texas Railroad Commission.