Responding Effectively to Toxic Gas Emission
Order Instructions:
Private Sector Partnerships: Natural/Man-Made Disasters
Locate the proper Response Partner Guide and the Emergency Support Function Annexes from the NRF Resource Center for this SLP. Also, refer to previous readings and required websites. For our focus in the Module 4 SLP, examples of private sector partners of an emergency response plan for a town or city include:
1.Transportation (e.g., trains, planes, ships)
2.Telecommunication systems
3.Utilities (e.g., water, electricity, waste disposal)
4.Banking
5.Hospitals
6.Retail (e.g., lumber outlet, supermarket)
There are other partners within this category; familiarize yourself with them.
Scenario: For this scenario, we are assuming that you have included the above private sector partners in your Emergency Response Plan. A number of railroad tank cars overturned releasing a toxic gas into the air. Gas clouds are traveling in the vicinity of a large residential area and an elementary school. You are the Incident Commander and tasked with coordinating an effective response. You have already alerted law enforcement and HAZMAT first responders.
Using the six private sector partners above in your response, what other step would you need to take to ensure the safety of the town’s citizens? Be specific and cite your sources.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Responding Effectively to Toxic Gas Emission
Toxic gas emissions into the air in a large residential area, and even worse where an elementary school is located, are a very dangerous disaster. As the incident commander, there is still more to be done even after alerting law enforcement and HAZMAT first responders. The next step to be taken is to contact the transportation partners. Since it will be more harmful to sit and wait for help to come, it is important to start transporting people from the area as soon as possible (Bennett, 2011). In this situation, trains will be used to move the children from the elementary school as fast as possible. This is an important step as it removes individuals from the site which may pose a danger to their lives. This partnership with transportation will also come in handy when transportation vehicles which are headed toward this direction are diverted. It is important to make this area a no go zone to reduce the rates of people who may get affected as a result of the toxic gas. Controlling traffic that is headed towards this direction can be complicated, especially because there are many routines. However, when the transportation partners step in, it will be easier to manage as they will offer their employees as well.
Next, the telecommunication systems partners will be contacted. This step will be effective in warning individuals of the dangers associated with coming to this region. At times, when the public is not notified, it will be impossible for people to stop driving to the area. This is because it takes time for the emergency transportation partners to be in place and start functioning. Fortunately, with the availability of telecommunications partners, a wider range of individuals may be notified through the media (Wasileski, 2014). The availability of these partners will also mean that individuals can communicate with the people who are in the affected area and still awaiting their evacuation. This is important as it promotes calm in the population. The people who are away from the area can relax and not come to the affected area when they know that their loved ones are safe. These communication systems will also be effective when the members of the rescue team need to communicate to others about the materials needed or similar things. When the communication lines are not interrupted at times of emergency, the process becomes swift and hence information can be passed and acted upon on time.
After that, the next step will be to contact the utilities partners. In such a situation, utilities are usually needed to support both the rescue team as well as the individuals who are still present in the affected site. For instance, water may be needed to help alleviate symptoms of poisoning from the gas. It may also be required when there is a case of an injury. Therefore, these partners will be contacted to ensure that all the required utilities are available in good number. This is also taken as a precautionary action since the individuals present may not necessarily need them (Harris, 2013). However, it is always better to be safe than to start transporting these items when need arises.
Banking partners will be contacted to offer financial assistance, which is mostly required in such situations. Financing is important when the team will need to purchase first aid kits and other medical equipment. Not all these are available through donations and nonprofit organizations. Some are usually rather expensive and they may need to be purchased from other institutions. They also offer financing for fuels of vehicles being used for this transportation of people and for the provision of first aid supplies to the region. This form of financing is required since there is no partner from such an institution whereby the group can be able to obtain free fueling of vehicles and trucks.
Hospitals who are also partners of this group will be contacted to inform them of the current situation. Since they are partners, they may have to send off aid and medical personnel, as well as be ready for any individuals who may be brought with an urgent need for medical attention (Karagiannis, Piatyszek & Flaus, 2013). When qualified medical personnel are present, the rates of possible deaths as a result of intoxication will be reduced. This is because all individuals who are present at the area will be checked for any signs or symptoms that may insinuate negative effects of the gas. When a person is identified as being affected, first aid will be quickly administered before taking them to the hospital. Their admission will not take time, and the patients will start being attended to immediately because the hospital will have been informed earlier, hence they will have had ample time to prepare and stock up on the required medication.
The last step will be to inform the retail partners. This may be helpful since the group may be given some of the necessary utilities on loan, which may be later catered for by the banking institutions.
References
Bennett, B. (2011). Effective Emergency Management A Closer Look at theIncident Command System. Professional Safety, 56(11), 28-37.
Harris, A. (2013). Never Stop. Engineering & Technology (17509637), 8(7), 48-51.
Karagiannis, G., Piatyszek, E., & Flaus, J. (2013). Model-Driven and Risk-Based Performance Analysis of Industrial Emergency Plans. Journal Of Contingencies & Crisis Management, 21(2), 96-114. https://www.doi:10.1111/1468-5973.12007
Wasileski, R. (2014). Retired & Dangerous. Professional Safety, 59(7), 33-40.
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