Emergency Management details hazmat education, volunteer training and ham‑radio preparedness

Christian County Emergency Management reported to the commission on its first‑quarter activities, saying staff met with regional partners, expanded volunteer training, and developed a community hazmat education campaign.

The EMA representative told commissioners the office met with the Southwest Healthcare Coalition to plan for upcoming large events and worked with the Southwest Missouri Emergency Support Organization to develop alternate communications if primary systems fail. The presenter said the department completed ham‑radio licensing and has participated in Amateur Radio Emergency Services meetings to strengthen back‑up communications.

Following last year’s train‑derailment exercise, EMA staff identified a gap in community hazmat awareness and have drafted materials for an education campaign to be deployed after storm season. The representative said the agency also ran a CERT academy that trained “more than a dozen” community members and held a volunteer conference that educated about 80 regional volunteers on topics ranging from radio communications to stop‑the‑bleed response.

Commissioners thanked EMA staff for outreach and local coordination. The report concluded with a request for questions; none led to further action at the meeting. The commission did not take a formal vote on program changes during the presentation.