BOARDMAN Officials to update emergency plan

The plan will work in conjunction with county plans.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Township officials are determined to be ready for natural disasters or any other large-scale crisis with a newly updated emergency preparedness plan that will coincide with an already established countywide plan.
Officials say the current township plan has become outdated. Public safety officials will analyze and update the old plan's relevancy to acts of terrorism and other disasters, both man-made and natural, said Trustee John Cox.
Under the new plan a database of township residents, grouped by each individual's specific skills, will be developed. The database will come into play when an emergency has taxed police and fire departments' resources and volunteers are needed to help with shelter efforts and other pre-identified tasks.
"What we hope to have at the completion of this process is a finished product that will represent a comprehensive plan and response within Boardman Township should such unfortunate incidents take place," Cox said. "Asking our residents to make themselves available will provide a wide range of expertise and a wealth of experience."
Wide range of skills: Cox said key components in the new plan will be the use of former township employees from the police, fire and road departments. He said once all retired emergency personnel have signed up, officials will likely advertise what disciplines are needed to the general public, possibly followed by some type of town meeting.
Cox said all types of expertise, ranging from engineers to doctors and nurses, will likely be needed to make the plan work.
Walter Duzzny, director of Mahoning County's Emergency Management Agency, said the township plan would work in cooperation with county plans by making township resources known and readily available via a database, therefore alleviating some of the need for county resources in certain emergencies.
"By building a database you kind of keep ahead of the ball by putting yourself in a position where you can say, 'I know we have 200 or 300 people available and we know who they are and how to reach them,'" he said.
First of townships: Duzzny said all surrounding townships are being asked to develop identical plans, but Boardman is spearheading the effort. He said with such a plan in place in the township, county officials can more easily focus on areas that may have been hit by the same emergency but are less prepared to handle it.
Township officials hope to complete the updated plan very soon.
jgoodwin@vindy.com