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IB-3 National Domestic Preparedness Office July 6, 2000

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Bioterrorism Preparedness Planning Assistance from Local Emergency Planning Committees

(LEPCs) and State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) to Public Health Departments

The National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) has previously expressed support for Local

Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC), and State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) as planning

bodies for Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) preparedness. This statement of support focused on the

LEPCs’ role in preparing for acts of chemical terrorism. The purpose of this Information Bulletin is to expand

the NDPO’s support for LEPCs to include their participation in the formulation of statewide and regional

preparedness and response plans developed by State and local health departments for bioterrorism.

A resource for bioterrorism preparedness planning

Unlike other terrorist events involving WMD, a biological attack may not occur within a single

jurisdiction. Disease clusters are likely to emerge in several locations before an actual bioterrorist event is

identified and confirmed. The response will require early detection, identification, epidemiological

investigation and disease outbreak intervention across multiple jurisdictions within or outside of the State of

origin. Consequently, it is vital that the planning for bioterrorism be comprehensive, geographically wideranging, and coordinated through all levels of government.

SERCs and LEPCs are potentially well suited to assist States and local communities in the development

of local, statewide and regional bioterrorism preparedness and response plans because of the composition of

their membership and their support in numerous jurisdictions across the country. Under the Emergency

Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA), the Governor in each State has designated a

State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). The SERCs, in turn, have designated about 4,000 local

emergency planning districts and appointed LEPCs for each district. In addition, a recent survey conducted by

George Washington University showed that 23% of LEPCs who responded already have incorporated

preparations for deliberate chemical releases by terrorists into their emergency plans and many have enlarged

their scope of operations to include other weapons of mass destruction. These local resources can provide

valuable support to State and local public health departments in the development of comprehensive local,

statewide and regional plans and systems that will prepare for bioterrorism.
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A forum for public health WMD preparedness

In a covert bioterrorism event, local health care providers and disease “sentinel” surveillance systems

will be the first to observe related unusual illnesses and deaths. Public health professionals will lead the effort

to identify the causative agent and conduct the epidemiological investigation. Though authorized primarily to

address issues related to hazardous materials, LEPCs and SERCs often include representation from State and

local public health departments. This situation creates an opportunity for State and local health departments to

leverage resources in the development of comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness and response plans.

LEPCs and SERCs can be a forum for public health officials to communicate with their WMD planning

partners.

Recommendations

The NDPO strongly supports LEPCs and SERCs participating in the formulation of local, statewide and

regional comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness and response systems and plans developed by State and

local public health departments. LEPCs that seek to participate in the development of bioterrorism

preparedness plans are encouraged to take the following actions:

• Offer to work with your State and local public health agencies and their bioterrorism preparedness and

response programs. Start by contacting the State epidemiologist and other infectious disease public health

officers in your State and local jurisdiction (Contact information about your State and local health

department can be found at www.cdc.gov/other.htm). Once contact has been made with your public health

agencies, discuss opportunities for collaborations between LEPCs, SERCs, and State and local health

departments on developing bioterrorism preparedness plans.

• Contact pertinent groups involved in bioterrorism preparedness and response that have received funding for

bioterrorism planning from the Centers for Disease Control or other agencies of the U.S. Public Health

Service (i.e., Metropolitan Medical Response Systems, academic institutions, etc.).

Lastly, State and local health agencies, including infectious disease control officials, should actively

participate in their respective SERC and LEPC meetings (Contact information about your LEPC can be found

at www.epa.gov/ceppo/lepclist.htm). Public health departments should consider using the planning capacity of

LEPCs and SERCs as a resource while developing comprehensive bioterrorism preparedness and response

plans. Also, LEPCs that wish to include bioterrorism information in their local plans should seek the guidance

of their State and local health department.

The NDPO encourages all parties involved with WMD preparedness planning to take part in the

activities of their LEPCs and SERCs as appropriate. Questions or comments can be sent to the NDPO at

ndpo@leo.gov, or call (202) 324-9025. For additional information about the Centers for Disease Control’s

bioterrorism programs, see the CDC’s website at www.bt.cdc.gov. For additional information about LEPCs,

SERCs, and the EPA’s Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office, visit their website at

www.epa.gov/ceppo.

This information is provided by the NDPO, in coordination with the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program at the Centers

for Disease Control, the Office of Emergency Preparedness at the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the Chemical

Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office at the US Environmental Protection Agency. The NDPO was established to

coordinate the Federal Government’s efforts to prepare the nation’s emergency response community for threats involving WMD.