Le Mars Fire Chief Wayne Schipper put the city council on alert Tuesday. The council members, Schipper said during the group's regular session, are most likely the next to be tested on their awareness and knowledge of the city's disaster plan.

"We want everyone," Schipper said, "to be aware of the plan's basics."

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Appearing at the session to provide members with an update of plan progress thus far, Schipper said he has been pleased with response of city staff department heads. They were among the first to receive the plans this spring and worked to familiarize staff members with plan components.

"I'm hopeful," Schipper said, "that no one gets hung up over any errors they may find in the plan. We need to remember that nothing is built in concrete, but sand, and can be changed or improved."

Most important, he said, is that everyone understands how the plan works and what their respective responsibilities are should disaster strike locally.

Schipper said recent testing of the city's six sirens indicated the units appeared to be working well and audible in locations in which they are intended to be heard. He reemphasized they are to be heard in outside areas rather than in dwellings or businesses.

The fire chief added that a study is also underway about possible portability of cable TV units to allow them to be used and to provide service in various areas of the city should a disaster happen. He is also, he said, looking into battery back-up for the siren units in the event of electrical outages.

"We don't," Schipper said, "want anything that can possibly help us to be left out of the equation."

Responding to a question from Councilman Ken Nelson relative to the disaster plan's adaptability to such incidents as rail disasters, Schipper acknowledged the possible difficulties of working a disaster site under the railroad's jurisdiction.

"I think you know," Schipper said, "that when it's a matter of the safety of people, I become quite a pit bull. If there's something that must be done, we'll do it. We won't just sit around and wait for paperwork to get done."

Schipper, before concluding his presentation, also shared with the council that he will welcome the assistance of volunteer workers should an any emergency occur and that he and his department will do everything possible to see that these volunteers are used effectively in areas where help could be needed.

Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff commended Schipper and all others in city government who have worked in developing the disaster plan adding that on-site departmental visits and discussion on the plan indicates their willingness to work successfully, if and when the need arises.