IV. METHOD OF OPERATIONS A. General Shawnee County uses the nearest appropriate responder concept (likely to be a county, municipal, state or nationally available resource) when responding to any threat, event, or disaster. In most situations, Shawnee County agencies will be the first and primary responders, and will be required to exceed their abilities or deplete their resources before requesting state assistance. Under some rare circumstances state or federal agencies may have the primary jurisdiction for the overall response effort. However Shawnee County resources will likely provide the first response for all incidents impacting the jurisdictions. 1. Non-Disaster Daily Operations Day to day operations of Shawnee County, absent of a declaration of State or Local Disaster Emergency is under the authority of the local governing body. A proactive day-to-day disaster planning process is in place using the following resources: 
Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)
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The Local Emergency Planning Council prepares regional hazardous materials emergency plans that indicate the facilities that use, produce, or store hazardous substances that are present in the jurisdiction.
LEPC serves as the repository for regional reports filed under Title III of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA). LEPC directs regional Title III implementation activities and performs associated outreach functions to increase awareness and understanding of and compliance with the EPCRA program. It is the responsibility of governments of Shawnee County and its communities to protect life and property from the effects of hazardous events. This Plan is based on the concept that emergency functions of responding agencies will generally parallel their normal, day-to-day functions. To the extent possible, the same personnel and material resources will be employed in both cases. Day-to-day functions that do not contribute directly to the emergency operation may be suspended for the duration of any emergency. Efforts that would normally be required of those functions will be re-directed to accomplish the emergency task assigned. This plan provides assistance in day-to-day operations by providing each agency their responsibilities during an emergency. This allows agencies to construct programs, strategies and methods which allow day-to-day responsibilities to compliment emergency operations. 2. Emergency Operations In accordance with KSA 48-932, the Chairman of the Shawnee County Board of County Commissioners may declare a state of local disaster emergency within Shawnee County. Such declaration shall be based on the judgment that a state of local disaster emergency is necessary to deal with a current or imminent emergency/disaster situation. 32