Emergency officials to meet in Litchfield

Hundreds of emergency planners, first responders and law enforcement officials will be in Litchfield Beach this week to learn more about how to handle disasters such as hurricanes.

The annual conference, which begins today and continues though Thursday, is being hosted for the first time by the S.C. Emergency Management Association and includes more than a dozen workshops focused on disaster planning and recover, according to officials.

"Being a coastal area with hurricanes [as] one of our major threats, it's important for us to start early. It's never too soon to start preparing," said Sam Hodge, Georgetown County's emergency manager. "We're trying to get the coastal community and some from all around the state planning to attend the courses."

It is the first time the association has held the conference, said Sam Hodge, Georgetown County's emergency manager. Because of budget restraints, the state Emergency Management Division could not host the conference this year, so the association stepped in to provide the workshop on a smaller scale.

"[The association] saw the need that we still need to have this opportunity to network and train together; so they agreed to help us continue with this annual conference," Hodge said. "It's a new venture with the association hosting, but we're pleased to be able to provide it to the participants."

By Friday, about 170 people had registered for the conference, Hodge said. More are expected to register when it begins today.

In the past, the conference has been a weeklong series of workshops and training sessions in emergency management and terrorism response hosted by the state emergency management division. It was open only to emergency officials, law enforcement and support staff.

But because the association is hosting, officials decided to open it to residents free of charge, Hodge said. One workshop will show how to plan for children's needs during a disaster and is open to area teachers, day-care providers and others who work with children.

That training also will count as a continuing education credit for those people attending through the state Department of Social Services, Hodge said.

"It is for anyone who deals with children, whether they are at a day-care center or are a school teacher," Hodge said. "It will help explain how children deal with disasters and how they can respond."

National Weather Service officials also will host a free seminar on their Skywarn program and train residents to get involved with that weather spotter program, according to officials.

For more information about the conference or to get a schedule, go to www.coastalworkshop.com, or call Georgetown County Emergency Management at 545-3273.