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Emergency Planning

Simulation

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• 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.

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• At approximately 1:40 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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Minot

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.

2:20 AM

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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 syste

m sirens

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• 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

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• 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 overContinue

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

2:40 AM

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

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• 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

mph2:55 AM

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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

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• 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

3:25 AM

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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

3:35 AM

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Match the responsibilities with the appropriate group.

The group may be used more than once.

• Fire Department (B and I)• Haz-Mat team (E)• Emergency medial technicians

(D)• Police (A and F)• Emergency response

coordinator (C,F, and G)

A. Site securityB. Site reconnaissanceC. Logistic SupportD. MedicalE. Release responseF. CommunicationsG. Information

disseminationH. Site safetyI. Fire control

3:50 AM

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

4:00 AM Continue

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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

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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

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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 Co

mmand Center • Recon members will use Fire Department turn

out gear X• Stay in the Command Center and use

binoculars XReturn

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• Ammonia off-gasses from the victims’ clothing.

• Personnel in the Command Center are overcome and collapse

• Game over

Continue

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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

4:15 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 homeowner’s yard – Tank car landed and hit residents’ house, house on

fire

4:35 AM

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Recon Report 2

• Ammonia concentrations– Command Center < 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

liquid4:45 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

4:55 AM

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Wind Direction

Train Derailment

Town of Minot, ND

Fire Station 1

School

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Downtown Minot

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• 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

Recon Report 3

Residential SubdivisionRiver

vapor

RiverResidential Subdivision

5:05 AM

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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

5:15 AM

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Recon Report 4

• Ammonia concentrations >5000 ppm at railcars• Identification of some of the cars

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

3231

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25

21 19

2419

23

27

29

301828

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Anhydrous ammonia cars (19, 20, 22, 23, 24) catastrophic failure

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Over 1200 feet

5:25 AM

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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

vapor

Residential Subdivision

River

5:35 AM

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Site Safety Officer: Report 3 Available References

• MSDS– Ammonia– Urea– Liquefied Petroleum Gas– Styrene Monomer

• DOT 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook

• EPA Offsite Consequence Analysis

Ammonia

Liquefied Gas

Styrene

Urea

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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 homeowner’s

house– Driver and wife got out– Wife entered homeowner’s house– Husband while inspecting car collapsed on lawn

• Vapor cloud visually appears to be diminishing

5:45 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

5:55 AM

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

6:00 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 ro

ute • Confirm with railroad that all traffic has been re-

routed C• Break for coffee to clear mind X

Return

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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

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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 CReturn

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Random Selection for Murphy's Law

OneTwo

Three

6:15 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 OverContinue

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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

6:20 AMContinue

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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

6:25 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

6:30 AM

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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

6:35 AM

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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 overContinue

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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.

8:10 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.

8:30 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

9:30 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

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• Start over• Exit

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Goodbye