Holmes County LEPC schedules full-scale emergency training amid funding uncertainty

When every second counts, local emergency response teams rely on a perfect game plan to answer the call." With that imperative, Holmes County Local Emergency Planning Committee members moved to accelerate preparedness plans at a meeting Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Holmes County District Health Building.

Members discussed an effort to obtain a grant that would fund seven different training programs for the county. Facing a question mark over future Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) dollars, Holmes County Emergency Management Agency leaders opted not to follow the usual sequence of exercises. Holmes EMA Director Jason Troyer said the county would apply for a full-scale exercise event rather than starting with a tabletop exercise. “Normally, we would do a tabletop experience first, but with the uncertainty of HMEP funding, we decided to apply for a full-scale exercise event,” Troyer said. “We simply aren’t sure of the HMEP in the future.”

Troyer framed the decision as both pragmatic and regulatory. He noted that “2026 begins a new four-year cycle for complying with state requirements for LEPC groups.” Under that cycle, counties must complete a tabletop exercise, a functional exercise and a full-scale operation. Troyer added that the full-scale event is intended to be inclusive: “This lets all entities within the county to participate and allows us to test our capabilities.”

For Holmes County residents, the move matters because full-scale exercises put plans and people through realistic scenarios. The exercise is intended to evaluate county-wide coordination, communication, and on-the-ground response procedures that come into play during hazardous materials incidents and other large-scale emergencies. While specifics on scenario design, participating agencies, timeline and budget were not finalized at the Jan. 29 meeting, county leaders say the effort is aimed at meeting state compliance and strengthening operational readiness before funding streams become more uncertain.

The LEPC discussion unfolded alongside other local priorities highlighted in the same community briefing, including a $400,000 federal allocation linked to a local water project and a $53,966 demolition grant application by Sugarcreek Village Council. State troopers also urged motorists to move over and slow down to protect roadside workers, a reminder that public safety preparations span prevention, response and recovery.

Officials say the next steps are to submit the application for the full-scale exercise and to seek the grant that could seed seven training programs countywide. Residents can expect more details as Holmes EMA formalizes the exercise plan and identifies participating agencies, exact dates and after-action reporting. The county’s push to secure training now reflects a cautious approach to federal funding volatility and a desire to keep Holmes County emergency systems tested and ready.