There's concern that officials at the Institute plant where a deadly chemical blast happened last week didn't immediately provide much in the way of details to emergency responders.

Local responders believe relations are a lot better.

iI's an accepted fact that part of the area's economic lifeblood is chemical plants. And that means both the potential, and reality, of chemical accidents. That's why last week's fatal explosion at a Kanawha County chemical plant can be an education to local responders. These days, that information can be available by the click of a mouse.

"They're all circulated through the various internet systems, and we all get feedback as to what might help other agencies," says Ed Hupp, Compliance Officer for Wood County Emergency Services. "Something that happens here might help someone in Charleston or Huntington or some other part of the country."

Hupp believes local plants work well with area responders. But an effective response also depends on technology...something emergency responders try to make sure is working properly.

"Every time we have a drill, that's the three things we test: the phone systems, the fax machines and the computer system," Hupp says. "And the State of West Virginia is working on an inter-operable radio system, which is not in Wood County, but is supposed to be here later this year. We can talk to anyone in the state on this inter-operable radio system also."

One reason Hupp believes the agencies and the plants cooperate well, is that representatives of the chemical plants sit on the Wood County Local Emergency Planning Committee.