Codington County Commissioners Approve Updated Hazmat Plan, Boost Emergency Preparedness in Watertown, SD
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved the updated county hazmat plan following a recommendation from the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC). Emergency Management Director Andrew Delgado presented the request and later delivered his monthly report, highlighting recent training, preparedness initiatives, and upcoming emergency drills.
Commissioners Approve Updated Hazmat Plan
Delgado told commissioners the LEPC met on September 8 to review the rewritten hazmat plan, focusing on sections most likely to require updates.
“I looked over it, I don’t know, probably three times,” Delgado said. “I think we got it all corrected.”
He said the LEPC voted to approve the plan with a minor name change, and county commission approval was the final step needed to close out the Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) grant that funded the project.
Commissioners approved the certificate of adoption unanimously.
Emergency Management Monthly Report
After the vote, Delgado provided his monthly update, noting that he and staff member Sherry attended the South Dakota Emergency Management Association Conference.
“Overall, pretty positive event,” Delgado said. “Picked up on a couple of things here and there. A lot of emphasis on cybersecurity and whatnot.”
He highlighted several recent training sessions:
Hazardous Weather & Flooding Preparedness
A two‑day course focused on severe weather response and flood readiness.
Battery Energy Storage Systems Training
Delgado attended alongside members of Watertown Fire Rescue and South Shore Fire, learning about emergency response protocols for modern battery storage systems.
Joint Training Discussions
Delgado met with DJ and fire department representatives to explore joint training opportunities.
Upcoming Emergency Drill
He is coordinating a simulated emergency test drill between:
· LARK (Lake Area Radio Club)
· Henry Fire Department
“I’m coordinating a drill between LARK and the Henry Fire Department for a simulated emergency test drill,” Delgado said.
