As a safety professional, former FF/EMT, HAZMAT Coordinator, and LEPC Chairperson I can personally attest to the value of what “preplanning” can do for a business, the community and its responders. Unfortunately in the current economic climate, most businesses, communities, and FD’s have had to set preplanning efforts to the side due to budget constraints. As a safety professional this frustrates me as we have all heard the phrase… “An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure”. Today, the chief of the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Office Emergency Management told lawmakers delving into the catastrophic explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. that emergency planning and response by city of West and McClennan County officials saved countless lives. Citing “the number of people evacuated safely, I would submit to you that the system worked,” said DPS’s Nim Kidd. This was a shocking statement after we just buried 12 firefighters, so I thought maybe somone needs to explain just who is responsible for “preplanning” and how is the “planning system” suppose to work…