Emergency management officials this week are learning to developa coordinated response plan to terrorist incidents or otherHomeland Security threats that might happen in Brookhaven orLincoln County.

“This is basically an overview of incident command for all localand emergency management personnel,” said Clifford Galey, HomelandSecurity coordinator for Brookhaven and Lincoln County.

Representatives from 18 local and state organizations have beeninvited to participate in the Incident Management Workshop thatbegan Monday night at the State Room. The three-day, 12-hour courseconcludes Thursday.

Pike County Emergency Management Director Richard Coghlan andLeake County Emergency Management Director Tommy Malone areinstructors for the workshop being conducted by Mississippi StateUniversity.

Coghlan said Incident Command plans are a requirement for citiesand counties to be eligible to receive federal Homeland Securityand other preparedness funding beginning in October. TheMississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is working with thestate’s 82 counties to develop plans for their respective areas, hesaid.

The Incident Management System is designed to mesh local, stateand federal response efforts. With a single comprehensive approach,agencies can be unified in terminology and other aspects ofresponding to incidents.

“Everyone has a role to play, and that’s what we want you toknow,” Coghlan told class participants.

Participants said the class can be beneficial to the area.

“I think it’s going to be a good class,” said Sedgie Mercier,Bogue Chitto Volunteer Fire Department chief. “Hopefully, everybodywill learn something out of it.”

Jane Jones, nurse manager for King’s Daughters Medical Center,said an emergency incident could happen at any time. It isimportant to know how to respond, she said.

“We’re going to learn how to do it and do it right,” Jonessaid.

At the end of the class, Galey hoped that an Incident ManagementPlan would be developed for the city and county. Once developed,the plan would be presented to supervisors and aldermen for theirapproval.

“It would be an operational plan for somebody to take control ofany situation no matter where it may be,” Galey said.