The Community Awareness Subcommittee develops outreach campaigns to educate children and adults about what to do during a chemical emergency, informs the public about LEPC activities and measures community attitudes and awareness levels.  Specifically, the committee communicates to citizens how they will be warned of an emergency and how to Shelter in Place to protect themselves from a chemical release.

Shelter In Place instructions have been printed on signs in city parks and athletic fields, in the telephone directory, on grocery bags distributed by supermarkets, and in the LEPC photo calendar distributed every year to all Deer Park homes and businesses. Firefighters and a Boy Scout Troop distribute the calendar and other materials to local apartment complexes.

FREE VIDEO AVAILABLE

A 15-minute video explaining the City's warning systems and demonstrating Shelter In Place is available for group presentations at no charge by calling the Office of Emergency Management at 281/478-7298.

COMMUNITY AWARENESS STUDY

In order to properly target a cost-effective outreach campaign, the LEPC hired Dr. Robert Heath from the University of Houston's School of Communications to conduct a telephone survey of 400 randomly-selected residents of Deer Park, Pasadena, and La Porte. Conducted first in 1995 and repeated in 1998 and 2001, the survey measured the community's attitudes about chemical releases, benchmarked awareness of the Shelter In Place program and other LEPC activities, identified key target audiences and recommended the best community outreach methods.

This website is another outreach activity of the Community Awareness Subcommittee. Among the many on-going community awareness activities:

WALLY WISE GUY

Wally Wise Guy is a turtle who knows it's wise to go inside his shell when there's danger, so this costumed character is the perfect mascot to teach children and adults how to Shelter In Place. Wally makes personal appearances at elementary schools, parades, sporting events, and other civic events, accompanied by an LEPC spokesperson or a member of the Peer Assistance Leadership (PAL) program at Deer Park High School.

Wally is targeted to teach elementary school students how to Shelter In Place, so children will bring Wally's message home to help educate their parents.  Deer Park parents receive their children's report cards in Wally report card covers printed by the LEPC.

Wally has proven so popular that a catalog of other Wally products and support materials have been developed, including a Wally newsletter, stationery, T-shirt, mugs, watches, stickers, refrigerator magnets, and trading cards. Wally has spread to more than 60 other LEPC's, emergency management agencies, and industry associations in more than 25 states and several foreign countries .

The City of Deer Park owns the registered trademark for the Wally Wise Guy
name and turtle design, but other LEPC's and industry associations can
purchase a Wally costume and license rights to use the Wally materials. For
more information, contact Sandra Watkins, LEPC Secretary, at 281/478-7247.

SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

According to a survey conducted by the Deer Park LEPC, 55 percent of all residents would stay inside their home during a chemical emergency.  This correct action was less likely to be followed if a resident were inside a business.  So the LEPC and Deer Park Chamber of Commerce worked together to develop an award-winning program with a packet of materials mailed to every small business in Deer Park.

The packet contains posters, handouts, and brochures to train employees and educate customers about Shelter In Place. Every business was asked to display a Wally sticker on their front door to alert customers that the business will shelter in place during any chemical emergency. The LEPC produced a handout for auto repair shops, dry cleaners, service stations, and other stores which use or sell toxic chemicals. The Chamber developed a handout explaining the legal responsibilities of every business to protect its employees and customers.

This program received the Award of Excellence from the Texas Association of Businesses and Chambers of Commerce for unique design and results achieved.  Additional packets are available from the Chamber office at 281/479-1559 or by calling the Office of Emergency Management at 281/478-7298.
 
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HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS MATERIALS COLLECTION DAY

The City of Deer Park LEPC partners with Clean Harbors Environmental Services in Deer Park to host a "Household Hazardous Materials Collection Day" on a Saturday in April during "Earth Week" activities.

Deer Park area residents can collect their household hazardous materials (old cans of paint, pesticides, cleaning products, antifreeze, batteries, used motor oil, etc.) so the products can be properly disposed of in order to protect our environment.

If hazardous materials are poured down the sink or sewer or placed in regular garbage, they may contaminate our municipal landfills or seep into groundwater supplies and affect our drinking water.  

Volunteers from industry and the LEPC staff the collection site, unloading vehicles and identifying the hazardous materials. The products are properly disposed of or recycled by trained and equipped personnel from Clean Harbors.

For more information, click HERE.