South County : Forum on Disasters Will Be Held Wednesday

The Saddleback Area Coordinating Council will hold an emergency preparedness forum at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Iglesia Park Community Center in El Toro.

“What we are really concerned with is that the majority of people are not well prepared for a natural or technological disaster,” said Joseph P. Barney, a member of the council board of directors. “We hope that through preparedness and preventive measures to mitigate the effects of emergency or disaster situations.”

Barney said the forum will discuss potential emergencies and disasters unique to the south county, such as a leak at the San Onofre nuclear power plant or a spill of hazardous waste material during transport or disposal.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, will present updated information about local emergency measures and policies of hospitals, utility companies and county service groups. The discussion panel includes Dale Brown, Orange County emergency management programs director; Jim Sumrow, south county area manager for Southern California Edison Co.; Bud Vackley, manager of the San Onofre nuclear power plant, and Robin Rowell, co-chairman of the disaster preparedness for Mission Community Hospital.