Local Emergency Planners from across the state are in Junction City for a two day conference put on by the Kansas Department of Emergency Management.

The conference focuses on local emergency planning committees and is being held at the Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center.

“Their here today just to learn about various reporting requirements, changes in laws that have recently happened since west Texas, and just generally how to better do their jobs and prepare their communities,” said Harry Heintzelman, Tech Hazards Planner with KDEM.

Local Emergancy Planning Committee’s are made up of elected officials, private sector representatives, emergency representatives and public groups.

In Geary County the LEPC is currently working on updating the emergency plan and Garry Berges, Geary County Emergency Management Director said that the conference is proving to be beneficial towards the development of the new plan.

“We hear from other people, some problems that they have, some new products that are coming out or programs coming out, that kind of stuff,” Berges said.

Jim Sands, Junction City Commissioner and a member of the Geary County LEPC said that he’s learning that there is a lot more to it than whats on the board.

“What we’re learning here is what the folks who respond for the emergencies, how they plan for the conferences, what their responses are, how they react when there is a response, and the preparation for it. This is mostly about the preparation of it,” Sands said.

When asked if Junction City and Geary County is prepared for an emergency Sands said,”Not trying to compare but I just feel that the team that I’m on, that we’re on here in Junction City is well prepared.”

Sands did say that part of that is probably because of having Fort Riley to the north helping out and the Kansas Department of Emergency Management helping out on a daily basis.

Other Emergency Management Officials from across the state are also seeing a benefit from the conference including Rick Shellenbarger, Sedgwick County Emergency Management All Hazards Planner.

“It’s very informative, there’s a lot of good speakers and presentations. It covers pretty much all of the areas you can expect for all hazardous planning, emergency planning for hazardous materials.”

A pre-conference was held Tuesday. The actual conference is Wednesday and Thursday. The morning sessions both days include special presentations and guest speakers with break out sessions in the afternoon.