1999-01-19 Special Called Meeting

Browse Search

Industry and local officials are PREPARED to take the following actions to protect the public if an incident occurs Industry ... Plants have systems in place to detect - process upsets and accidental releases, such as gas detection devices and video monitors. These devices quickly signal the plant control room of an emergency and allow for a rapid response to an incident. Plant operators also check for potential problems. Local emergency officials .. . As soon as officials are notified of an emergency, they determine whether and how to notify the public to take protective action. Notification systems vary from community to community and range from outdoor warning sirens to the KTRH Radio 740 AM emergency broadcast station. In an emergency, the plant response plan immediately goes into effect. The incident command system is established and the plant emergency response team is mobilized. The team is properly trained and uses well -maintained equipment. The Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA) network and community emergency responders are also available to help. After further assessing the emergency, public officials determine whether an incident warrants protective action, such as shelter -in -place or evacuation. If protective action is called for, officials give detailed instructions on what to do through the emergency notification system available in that community. Industry and local officials ... Working together, industry and local officials can help a community recover from a chemical emergency. Following an emergency, a community's needs might range from repair of property damage to counseling services. While the emergency response team is taking action, the plant is notifying public officials of the emergency. The plant also provides information to the CAER Line in a timely manner (the goal is to post information on the CAER Line within 15 minutes of an event). Some plants have additional ways to notify neighbors. After any danger has passed, local officials let the public know that the incident is over through the community's emergency notification system or KTRH Radio 740 AM (the Houston Area emergency broadcast station). Through post -incident investigations and informal briefings and discussions, industry and local officials can learn much from an incident. These lessons can go a long way toward preventing similar incidents in the future and improving emergency response systems.