Fort Bend County HS&EMFort Bend County HS&EM

Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management

Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)

FBC LEPC Meeting Today Is POSTPONED

Severe weather in the region is making it unsafe to be out on the road. I just returned from an appointment in Clear Lake and the rain was extremely heavy driving up the Grand Parkway. The LEPC Chairman consulted with leadership and the FBC HS&EM office and decided not to have a meeting today under current weather conditions.

The monthly meeting of the FBC LEPC will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, 2019, in the Media Room, Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office, 703 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas.  Please plan to attend and participate next week.

In the meantime, stay safe and if you don’t have to be on the road, stay home or at work. Many roadways are becoming impassable and dangerous. When faced with water ponding on the road, Turn Around, Don’t Drown. Monitor KTRH-740 AM radio for current weather conditions.

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

FBC LEPC September 2019 Meeting

Good afternoon, members. The Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee monthly meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, September 19, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. in the Media Room, Fort Bend County Homeland Security & Emergency Management Office, 703 Fort Street, Richmond, TX  77469. The agenda for the meeting is attached. Please review the document and be prepared with questions and suggestions for the betterment of the LEPC.

FBCLEPC-Agenda20190919

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

FBCLEPC

FBC LEPC August Meeting

The Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee will assemble for the current month’s meeting today, Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. in the Media Room, Homeland Security & Emergency Management office, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas  77469.  Facility representatives and the public are invited to attend. There is no cost associated with attending the meeting.  The agenda for the meeting is available at this link:

FBCLEPC-Agenda20190815-draft

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

   FBC LEPC

FBC LEPC July Meeting Cancelled

The July meeting of the Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee (FBCLEPC) meeting scheduled for 2:30 p.m. yesterday (Thursday) at the FBC HS&EM building, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas, was cancelled when a quorum was unable to be achieved. A quorum consists of “at least one (1) Officer and at least six (6) members of the LEPC at the opening of the meeting…for the transaction of business by the LEPC.” 

The next monthly meeting of the FBCLEPC will be on Thursday, August 15, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. at the FBC HS&EM building.  Please note that most meetings and notices for LEPC participants are posted on the FBCLEPC website at https://fbcoem.org/lepc/.  Additionally, the FBCLEPC has a page on Facebook. The easiest way to locate it is to open FB and search for Fort Bend County LEPC.

 

Bob Gaffney

FBCLEPC Secretary/Treasurer

Texas Annual Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday

 

The Texas Comptroller announced the annual sales tax holiday for emergency preparation supplies in a post on their website at http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/publications/98-1017.php (highlight the complete URL and click to go to the web page). The sales tax free holiday will be April 27-29, 2019.

You can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free during the 2019 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to issue an exemption certificate to claim the exemption.

This year’s holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ends at midnight on Monday, April 29.

These emergency preparation supplies qualify for tax exemption if purchased for a sales price:

  • Less than $3000
    • Portable generators
  • Less than $300
    • Emergency ladders
    • Hurricane shutters
  • Less than $75
    • Axes
    • Batteries, single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
    • Can openers – nonelectric
    • Carbon monoxide detectors
    • Coolers and ice chests for food storage – nonelectric
    • Fire extinguishers
    • First aid kits
    • Fuel containers
    • Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
    • Hatchets
    • Ice products – reusable and artificial
    • Light sources – portable self-powered (including battery operated)
      • Examples of items include: candles, flashlights and lanterns
    • Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
    • Radios – portable self-powered (including battery operated) – includes two-way and weather band radios
    • Smoke detectors
    • Tarps and other plastic sheeting

These supplies do not qualify for tax exemption:

  • Batteries for automobiles, boats and other motorized vehicles
  • Camping stoves
  • Camping supplies
  • Chainsaws
  • Plywood
  • Extension ladders
  • Stepladders
  • Tents
  • Repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies
  • Services performed on, or related to, emergency preparation supplies

Additional Charges Affect Purchase Price

Delivery, shipping, handling and transportation charges are part of the sales price. If the emergency preparation supply being purchased is taxable, the delivery charge is also taxable. Consider these charges when determining whether an emergency preparation supply can be purchased tax free during the holiday.

For example, you purchase a rescue ladder for $299 with a $10 delivery charge, for a total sales price of $309. Because the total sales price of the ladder is more than $300, tax is due on the $309 sales price.

For more information, contact us (Texas Comptroller) at Tax Help, or call 1-800-252-5555.

FBC LEPC Meeting Agenda, April 18, 2019

The Fort Bend County Local Emergency Planning Committee will assemble for the current month’s meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. in the Media Room, Homeland Security & Emergency Management office, 307 Fort Street, Richmond, Texas  77469.  Facility representatives and the public are invited to attend. There is no cost associated with attending the meeting.  The agenda for the meeting is available at this link:

FBCLEPC-Agenda20190418-draft

 

Bob Gaffney

Secretary/Treasurer

   FBC LEPC