Emergency Planning

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Emergency Planning

• Simulation

2

• You are the county Emergency Response Coordinator
  in a rural North Dakota County
• Your job is to coordinate the activities of the
  Emergency Response Groups (ERG) in your county
  and provide mutual aid to the State as necessary.
• The ERG groups you work with include
• Fire Department
• Police (state, county, and local)
• County Hazardous Material Team
• Etc.
• You are also the liaison between other state
  agencies and private companies e.g,
• State EPA
• OSHA
• Public Health Department
• Healthcare facilities
• Etc.

3

• At approximately 140 AM you get a telephone call
  from a police dispatch stating that a patrol car
  reported a train derailment
• The derailment occurred approximately ½ mile from
  the town of Minot, North Dakota
• The was an explosion reported
• No further data is available at this time.
• You ask for directions to Minot

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Minot, ND
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Train Derailment
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• As you approach Minot you notice that the town is
  unusually dark.
• A squad car with light flashing blocks the road.
• The police officer states that the derailment did
  occur and it was a bad one.
• The police officer adds that there is a cloud
  over the derailment area and it smells like
  ammonia.

220 AM
7
Select the initial actions

• Go see the cloud and determine the source
• Secure area using police C
• Set up a command center upwind C
• Set up a command center downwind
• Search for survivors
• Sound the public warning system system sirens

8

• You and your response team are overcome by the
  odor and irritation of ammonia. You collapse.
  If help is not immediately available you may die.
  
• Game over

Continue
9

• You cause people to leave their house.
• Without shelter they become frost bit, and many
  suffer from pulmonary irritation and edema.
• Those with compromised cardiovascular systems or
  respiratory conditions collapse and may die.
• Game over

Continue
10

• From the command center you are able to get the
  first view of the derailment.

240 AM
11

• At first glance you see
• At least 20 railcars that have derailed
• A vapor cloud growing over the site and spreading

12

• The police have assigned a liaison officer (PLO)
  to you. She provides the following information.
• Two locomotives and approximately 20 cars are
  about a half mile down the track apparently
  decoupling during the derailment.
• A patrol car is approaching the locomotives
  location they are searching for the engineer
• Volunteer fire department is starting to arrive
• Electrical power is out on SW side of town
• Environmental conditions
• Atmospheric low pressure
• Temperature 6 oF
• Wind direction is variable from the southwest at
  6 mph

255 AM
13
Select the actions

• Go see the cloud, determine the source, and
  search the site for survivors.
• Confirm that all access points have been secured
  C
• Sound the public warning system system sirens
• Obtain a map of Minot. Have engineer and the
  shipping papers brought to command center C
• Call the Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat)Team out C
• Monitor wind direction C

14

• The vapor cloud is spreading
• There is a stronger odor of ammonia both upwind
  and downwind
• Vapor cloud appears to be approaching airport
  however, there is a community approximately ¼
  mile away

325 AM
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(No Transcript)
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• You realize that additional staffing is necessary
  and place a call for mutual aid. Estimated time
  of arrival 20 minutes
• There are too many details to focus on.
  Therefore you set up an incident command team
  using the
• Fire Department
• Haz-Mat team
• Emergency medial technicians
• Police
• Emergency response coordinator

335 AM
17
Match the responsibilities with the appropriate
group.The group may be used more than once.

1. Site security
2. Site reconnaissance
3. Logistic Support
4. Medical
5. Release response
6. Communications
7. Information dissemination
8. Site safety
9. Fire control

• Fire Department (B and I)
• Haz-Mat team (E)
• Emergency medial technicians (D)
• Police (A and F)
• Emergency response coordinator (C,F, and G)

350 AM
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• Select, plan and choose actions
• Site Safety Officer
• Site Logistics Supervisor
• Site Response Supervisor

400 AM
Continue
19
Site Safety officer Select the actions

• Initiate set up a monitoring protocol and
  initiate. C
• Obtain a MSDS for ammonia and other materials as
  discovered C
• Monitor the wind direction C
• Communicate with press and residents X
• Establish as rescue plan X
• Contain the ammonia release

Return
20
Site Logistics Select the actions

• Provide and assist with PPE C
• Provide decon supplies C
• Provide release containment equipment C
• Assist in recon procedures X
• Provide responder support supplies C
• Stay in the Command Center and coordinate
  contractors X

Return
21
Site Reconnaissance Select the actions

• Contact engineer for shipping papers C
• Dispatch two recon teams (2 people each) to
  approach the site upwind from Command Center and
  1.5 miles downwind to monitor air C
• Use infrared scanners to search for survivors C
• Rescue any survivors and bring them to the
  Command Center
• Recon members will use Fire Department turn out
  gear X
• Stay in the Command Center and use binoculars X

Return
22

• Ammonia off-gasses from the victims clothing.
• Personnel in the Command Center are overcome and
  collapse
• Game over

Continue
23
Recon Report 1

• Engineer is having trouble breathing but he is
  able to provide the shipping papers
• The train contained
• Gross weight was 12,342 tons
• Length was 7138 feet long
• 86 loaded cars
• 39 cars of hazardous materials
• 15 with anhydrous ammonia
• 10 with liquid petroleum gas
• 11 with styrene monomer
• Hazardous waste residues
• 26 empty cars

415 AM
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Security Report 1

• All main roads are blocked off, including roads
  into the closest community.
• Very little traffic however, traffic has to be
  stopped because there is no convenient by-pass.
• Power remains out.
• No media types in the area.
• Calls to 911 allege
• Tank car landed in homeowners yard
• Tank car landed and hit residents house, house
  on fire

435 AM
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Recon Report 2

• Ammonia concentrations
• Command Center lt 1 ppm
• ¼ mile upwind 4.5 ppm
• 1/10 mile upwind 20 ppm
• 1.5 miles downwind 45 ppm
• 1.0 miles downwind 250ppm
• 0.5 miles downwind 1260 ppm
• No one remains on the derailment site
• 3 Tank cars demolished
• One tank car appears to be leaking liquid

445 AM
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Site Safety Officer Report 1

• Provides MSDS for anhydrous ammonia (permanent
  link)
• Provides DOT Response Guidelines ( permanent
  link)
• Provides map of Minot ( permanent link)
• Recommends continued use of SCBA for Recon until
  maximums have been determined
• Establishes safe exposures for responders at 25
  ppm
• Establishes safe exposures for general
  population 10 ppm
• Provides copies of placards for hazardous
  material for Recon Comparisons

455 AM
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Fire Station 1
School
Town of Minot, ND
Wind Direction
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Downtown Minot
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Recon Report 3

• The vapor cloud continues spreading
• Patrol car at residential community reports
  strong odor of ammonia vapor cloud is closer to
  the residential community approximately ¼ mile
  away

Residential Subdivision
River
505 AM
30
Incident Commander Select the actions

• Continue monitoring at perimeter of cloud C
• Send Fire Department to residence with Recon
  assistance to monitor ammonia concentrations C
• Have Recon attempt to identify leaking liquid C
• Sound the public warning system system sirens
• Have police identify possible evacuation routes C
• Notify railroad to re-route traffic C

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Site Safety Officer Select the actions

• Go with Fire Department to residence to monitor
  ammonia concentrations X
• Work with Recon to identify leaking liquid C
• Contact the local hospital and inform them of
  ammonia release C
• Forward MSDS to hospital C
• Work with medical for first aid protocols C

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Site Safety Officer Report 2

• 5 tank cars ruptured
• 29,350 gallons per car average
• Approximately 146,700 gallons initially
• Approximately 74,000 gallons additional
• Liquefied compressed gas

515 AM
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Recon Report 4
Car No. Content
1 - 5 Urea
6 - 10 Empty
11 Polelastblacks
12 Southwrblacks
13 -17 Urea
18 to 32 Anhydrous Ammonia
33 -39 Lumber
40 - 41 Empty
42 Lumber
43 Polyethylene
44 - 48 Liquefied Petroleum Gas
49 - 71 Glycol
72 Lumber
73 - 84 Styrene Monomer
85 - 88 Empty
89 - 90 Styrene Monomer
91 - 97 Empty
98 Liquefied Petroleum Gas
99 - 100 Chemical Residues
101 - 102 Wood Pulp
103 - 106 Liquefied Petroleum Gas
107 - 112 Empty

• Ammonia concentrations gt5000 ppm at railcars
• Identification of some of the cars

19
23
24
27
26
32
29
31
30
18
28
25
19
21
Over 1200 feet
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525 AM
Anhydrous ammonia cars (19, 20, 22, 23, 24)
catastrophic failure
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Recon Report 5

• Emergency Responders can not access neighborhood
  unless they go through vapor cloud in excess of
  750 ppm
• All access roads pass through the vapor cloud

535 AM
35
Site Safety Officer Report 3 Available
References

• MSDS
• Ammonia
• Urea
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas
• Styrene Monomer
• DOT 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook
• EPA Offsite Consequence Analysis

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Site Safety Officer Report 4

• Tierracita Vallejo homeowner reports that a
  neighbor and wife got into a car and tried to
  drive away.
• Driver lost control of his car and hit
  homeowners house
• Driver and wife got out
• Wife entered homeowners house
• Husband while inspecting car collapsed on lawn
• Vapor cloud visually appears to be diminishing

545 AM
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Site Security Officer Report 2

• Recon team has advised the security team to
  expand the exclusion area an additional ½ mile
• All evacuation routes will pass through a portion
  of the vapor cloud.
• Ammonia concentrations along main evacuation road
  are estimated to be in excess of 800 ppm

555 AM
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• Select, plan and choose actions
• Incident commander
• Site Safety Officer
• Site Logistics Supervisor

600 AM
Continue
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Incident Commander Select the actions

• Send EMT to residence to treat downed man X
• Consider relocating the command center X
• Continue monitoring at perimeter of cloud C
• Send police to start evacuation along alternative
  route
• Confirm with railroad that all traffic has been
  re-routed C
• Break for coffee to clear mind X

Return
40
Safety Officer Select the actions

• Continue evaluating monitoring results C
• Research UN number on tank car placard to
  identify leaking liquid C
• Communicate with Fire Department relative to the
  hazards of the contents of other cars. C
• Work with police to evaluate the safety of
  evacuation options C
• Have security set up warning flares on RR tracks
  2 miles before derailment C

Return
41
Logistics Officer Select the actions

• Continue evaluating monitoring results X
• Work with safety department to research the
  proper protective equipment X
• Have concern about decontamination due to low
  temperatures C
• Work with police to evaluate the evacuation
  options X
• Provide warming shelters for Response, Recon,
  Decon, etc. C
• Ensure availability of PPE and replacement
  equipment C
• Contact school superintendent about availability
  of school gym as an emergency shelter C
• Contact local Red Cross about the availability of
  cots, blankets, etc. C
• Provide a link to the World Wide Web X
• Review transportation options C

Return
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Random Selection for Murphy's Law

• One
• Two
• Three

615 AM
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Scenario One

• The leaking liquid is styrene monomer
• A fire starts and quickly becomes an inferno
• One of the styrene tanks BLEVE
• The concussion and heat results in the failure of
  several of the liquefied gas cars resulting a a
  large explosion
• Response team dies
• Game Over

Continue
44
Scenario Two

• The wind shifts suddenly
• The site security officer is overcome
• Command Center has an ammonia concentration of 25
  and is increasing
• Select the proper action
• Evacuate immediately
• Continue operations because ammonia
  concentrations are below the OSHA PEL - well
  within safe limits

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Scenario Two

• Correct answer
• You evacuate to a location further away and down
  wind
• Game continues

Continue
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Scenario Two

• Ammonia concentration continues to rise,
  affecting judgment, and jeopardizes response team
  safety
• Several responders are overcome and collapse
• Game over

Continue
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Scenario Three

• Nothing unusual happens
• Training and drills make the response progress
  without incident

Continue
620 AM
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Recon Report 6

• Ammonia concentrations
• In neighborhood have peaked at 1800 ppm
• All evacuation routes above 1000 ppm
• House fire is contained
• Husband found by Recon is not responsive
  (transported to staging area)
• Liquid leaking is styrene
• Multiple of red diamond placards in area

625 AM
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Site Security Officer Report 3

• There are no evacuation routes by road
• Overland evacuation may be possible with high
  clearance vehicles
• News crews are arriving and want a statement
• Large number of spectators at the perimeter

630 AM
50
Logistics Officer Report 1

• Supply of air tanks is diminishing
• Limited extra PPE is available
• School gym is available for temporary shelter
• Hospital is staging for major trauma event
• Hospital acknowledges ammonia exposures and Decon
  capabilities
• Decon stations are freezing solid

635 AM
51
Incident Commander Select the actions

• Send police to commandeer 4-wheel drive vehicles,
  and buses and start evacuation
• Decide to have residents shelter in place

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• People leave their house.
• While waiting for transportation, without
  shelter,
• Transport vehicles become stuck in snow
• One vehicle slides on ice and strikes another
  vehicle
• People become frost bit
• Many suffer from pulmonary irritation and edema.
  
• Those with compromised cardiovascular systems or
  respiratory conditions collapse and may die.
• Game over

Continue
53
Incident Commander Select the actions

• Contact broadcast stations (radio and TV) to
  announce emergency warning to stay in house C
• Advise residents to prepare wet cloths and
  breathe through them when told to evacuate. X
• Continue monitoring at perimeter of cloud C
• Contact broadcast stations (radio and TV) to
  announce that the furnaces and hot water heaters
  should be turned off to minimize negative
  pressure in the house. C
• Stop all monitoring procedures and have Recon
  teams Decon X
• Have police cars approach boundary to use load
  speakers for warning as necessary. C

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Site Security Officer Report 4

• 10 people left for work without receiving
  warnings
• Three have respiratory issues and have been sent
  to hospital
• Seven are receiving first aid exams
• One person lost control of vehicle and struck a
  tree.
• Driver remains in the car.

810 AM
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Recon Report 7

• Ammonia concentrations decreasing
• Half the Recon teams are Decontaminating
• Air supplies are getting very limited
• Several recon members appear to have frost bite.

830 AM
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Congratulations

• Ammonia has dissipated to safe levels
• People can leave their house
• Only one person died
• 31 are in the hospital for observation
• 64 have been treated and released

930 AM
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Incident Commander Select the actions

• Light a cigar and open a cold one. X
• Congratulate responders and have all of them
  report to first aid for checkup. C
• Continue monitoring site for other hazardous
  materials issues C
• Emergency is over. Hold a press conference to
  explain what happened. X
• Have Haz-Mat Team contain, control, and arrange
  for disposal of all hazardous materials C
• Turn over command and seek shelter and
  nourishment. C
• Schedule a response review. C

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Final Score
Continue
59

• Start over
• Exit

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Goodbye