The Clinton County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) hosted a railroad safety seminar at the Frankfort Police Department Thursday. The LEPC brings together public safety agencies, health officials, community leaders, and local governments to prepare for hazardous material incidents.
The seminar, part of the LEPC’s annual training requirement, featured Brian Shanks of Norfolk Southern Railroad as the keynote presenter. Shanks provided an in-depth overview of the hazardous materials transported by rail and underscored the importance of readiness in the event of an accident. Clinton County is traversed by two major rail lines, CSX and Norfolk Southern, making railroad preparedness a top priority.
“Preparedness is not optional—it’s essential,” said Ed Cripe, Clinton County Coroner and Chairman of the LEPC. “With two major railroads running through Clinton County, the possibility of an incident is always present. The work we do through the LEPC—updating plans each year, conducting drills, and building partnerships—ensures that if something happens, our first responders and community leaders are ready to respond quickly and effectively.”
Renee Crick, Director of Clinton County Central Dispatch and Interim Director of the Clinton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), emphasized the importance of collaboration. “Emergency response is not the job of one agency—it takes all of us working together,” Crick said. “These seminars and future exercises allow us to strengthen relationships, practice communication, and identify gaps before a crisis occurs. The more we prepare now, the better we’ll serve our community in the future.”
Looking ahead, the LEPC will conduct a full-scale exercise in 2026 involving an actual rail engine and cars to test emergency response skills in a realistic, hands-on scenario.
The following agencies took part in Thursday’s seminar: Clinton County Central Dispatch, Clinton County Commissioners, Clinton County Coroner, Clinton County Council, Clinton County EMA, Clinton County EMS, Clinton County Health Department, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Covestro, Frankfort Fire Department, Frankfort Mayor Judy Sheets, Frankfort Police Department, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Integrated Public Safety Commission, IU Health Frankfort Hospital, Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, Red Cross, and Rossville Schools.