Anderson Independent-Mail

Anderson, S.C. — Individuals are being recruited to assist Oconee emergency officials with the county's 2010 threat and risk assessment.

"The threat and risk assessment is part of our local emergency planning grant, and it also makes us eligible for other grants like Homeland Security and FEMA," said Rodney Burdette, Oconee County Emergency Management Agency director. "To be compliant, it has to be updated every five years. It involves going out into the community and looking at the places that are the most vulnerable to a possible threat."

Oconee County last conducted an assessment in 2005. So on Wednesday afternoon, the county Homeland Security Task Force discussed a plan to perform another assessment in the coming two years to remain compliant with the grant.

"What we're in the process of doing is setting up different groups and getting people to participate as part of the committee to conduct this assessment," Burdette said. "We just completed some training last week with Texas A&M. They provide a lot of different programs across the country. They do it through (the U.S. Department of) Homeland Security."

The task force is looking for interested people in the community to join a team. Groups of two will be assigned to research a site in the county and review the risks associated with that site.

"We'll be using interested people that have a knowledgeable background to help us with this so that we can, within the next two years, get (a list of) all the places that we need to re-evaluate, have that list ready and have the priority in which (the places) fall in place, so that we can turn that back in to the federal government and keep our compliance with the grant," Burdette said.

Those interested in being part of the survey effort should call the Oconee County Emergency Management Agency at (864) 638-4200.

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