Norman fire official defends response to powder
NewsOK.com - Oklahoma City,OK,USA
BY JOHNNY JOHNSON
Published: October 23, 2008
Since Oklahoma City-area Chase banks received threatening letters Monday, nearly 50 similar letters have been found in 10 states and Washington, D.C., the FBI reported.
What is absent from the new reports of letters with suspicious powder is the kind of decontamination protocol used by emergency responders at the Chase bank in Norman, where 10 employees were evacuated and hosed down.
Norman Deputy Fire Chief Jim Bailey said he can’t say why other emergency responders did not use the hazmat decontamination procedure, but there was a good reason why Norman officials did.
Four people came in contact with the letter, Bailey said, and as emergency responders were assessing the scene, a woman began to exhibit symptoms of illness, including shortness of breath.
Once that happened, Bailey said, officials couldn’t determine whether the woman was overly excited or had been contaminated with something she inhaled.
"That told us this was a viable threat, and we needed to take proper precautions,” he said. "This person was having breathing problems.”
Shortly after the woman was hospitalized, authorities determined her response was not physically related to any contaminants in the letter. Police weren’t sure if the letter contained any substance.
Bailey said it’s possible people are not reading about decontamination responses at the other locations because no one at those locations showed contamination symptoms.
Bailey said he can’t say for certain what the response would have been had the woman not shown symptoms,
Investigation continues
FBI Special Agent Gary Johnson said Wednesday more than 45 of the letters went to financial institutions, and most contained a powder, which has tested negative for contaminants.
Letters have been found in Atlanta; Chicago; Columbus, Ohio; Dallas; Denver; Newark, N.J.; New York City; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Washington.
Letters also have been reported at two FDIC office locations.
The Associated Press reported authorities are focusing on possible suspects near Amarillo, Texas, as the single source for all the letters.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Hazmat Survival Tips: Hazardous Materials Incidents at Freight Terminals
Hazmat Survival Tips: Hazardous Materials Incidents at Freight Terminals
Beyond the Rule of Thumb
Survival Tip 33
By Steven De Lisi
Incidents at freight terminals involving hazardous materials can present unique dangers to first responders. Operations at these facilities typically involve the unloading, sorting, and reloading of freight for distribution by highway transportation. Items handled can be anything from a small carton to large pieces of machinery. Totes, drums, and pails containing hazardous materials often move through these terminals, and although the percentage of items handled that are regulated as hazardous materials is relatively low when compared with other commodities,, the potential for a major incident is not. Yet, too many first responders pay little attention to freight terminals and instead focus their attention on more traditional hazardous materials facilities such as industrial plants and storage warehouses. First responders should definitely be concerned about the freight terminals that may be in their community.
Incidents at these facilities are often the results of rough handling of the containers, including those damaged as the result of having shifted during transportation. Remember, not all freight loaded on delivery trailers consists of shrink-wrapped pallets placed neatly on the floor. In reality, freight of all shapes and sizes is often stacked to maximize the volume of a trailer and load the greatest amount of material allowed by state and federal weight limits. Sudden stops and sharp turns during transportation can sometimes dislodge these items, damaging the containers. Usually, this damage and the subsequent release of product are not detected until the trailer doors are opened at the dock and workers are suddenly greeted with a pungent chemical odor.
Forklift blades also frequently damage containers. Punctures to metal and plastic containers usually occur when the containers are behind a pallet and the blades of the forklift used to move the pallet are longer than the pallet. If the blades of the forklift are placed completely through the pallet, the extra blade length will most likely puncture the container. This represents a serious problem for first responders: not only is the breach rectangular in shape, making it difficult to patch, but the breach is also on the lowest point of the container, resulting in the potential loss of the entire contents.
A fire on the loading dock of a freight terminal should be another cause for concern. While parked at the dock, there is typically less than 18 inches between trailers, so that a fire that starts in one trailer can rapidly extend to nearby trailers. Furthermore, many terminals have bay doors around the perimeter of the loading dock. These doors are normally maintained in the open position during hours of operation. In addition, most do not have cushions that seal the back of a trailer against the dock. As a result of these characteristics, first responders can encounter significant crosswinds during windy weather on a loading dock. These winds can increase when trailers are not in place at every door because the entire bay door opening is then exposed. The result is several thousand square feet of space under a metal roof loaded with large amounts of combustible materials and with significant horizontal ventilation in place prior to the arrival of fire suppression crews. The presence of numerous forklifts, each with its own propane cylinder (used as a fuel source), adds to the potential list of hazards for firefighters under these circumstances. Remember, too, that not all loading docks are equipped with automatic fire suppression systems. This fact, coupled with the inability to control air flow during the incipient stage, means that fires that occur on the dock or inside a trailer can intensify rapidly.
When dealing with hazardous materials incidents at freight terminals, since the products handled are in transition, some of the rules learned during hazardous materials awareness training may not apply. For example, although first responders are taught that shipping papers are normally in the possession of a driver or perhaps in a pouch on the driver's door or on the driver's seat when the vehicle is unattended, these requirements do not apply to trailers being loaded or unloaded at a dock These documents might be at a check stand next to the truck or trailer where the container is leaking or may be sitting on a forklift or in an office at the terminal. Federal transportation regulations require only that shipping papers be "in a location that is immediately accessible to facility personnel in the event of an incident involving the hazardous material." 1
Another problem is that although employees who ship or receive chemicals may have some knowledge regarding the hazardous nature of the material, those who handle freight on a loading dock generally have no experience dealing with the product should there be a release. And don't believe those who say that a material safety data sheet (MSDS) is required to be affixed to shipping papers! That claim is nothing more than a long-standing myth propagated by generations of well-meaning instructors of hazardous materials training programs. Although first responders may occasionally find an MSDS attached to shipping papers, this is rare and represents the exception rather than the rule.
In contrast to an MSDS, an emergency response telephone number is required by federal regulations. This number can be used to contact "a person who is either knowledgeable of the hazardous material being shipped and has comprehensive emergency response and incident mitigation information for that material or has immediate access to a person who possesses such knowledge and information." 2
Although this telephone number can be an effective means for obtaining emergency response information, remember that, as stated earlier, one of the challenges for first responders arriving at a freight terminal is simply locating the shipping papers. Even if their location is known, an evacuation of the facility may make access to these documents, whether on the dock or in an office, impossible.
Some first responders are well aware that many larger trucking companies will usually enter details from shipping papers into a computer database, thereby making this information readily available at a remote location. However, if the incident occurs at the terminal where the hazardous material involved was originally picked up, that information may not have been entered into the database before the incident occurred. This not only makes it more difficult for first responders because there is no backup documentation available but also because even the original bill of lading at the terminal may have been damaged or destroyed during the incident. If that is the case, then first responders may need to contact the shipper to obtain the original copy of the shipping paper. This could be difficult if the incident occurs outside of the shipper's normal working hours.
The decision to affix or remove hazardous materials placards for trailers placed at a loading dock and in the terminal yard is yet another problem. This practice all too often depends on internal company policies rather than federal transportation regulations. Some companies may require that dock workers continually change placards as materials are loaded and unloaded. Others allow their personnel to wait until the loading and unloading process has been completed. The latter approach allows final placarding to be based on a combination of hazard classes that may be loaded, many of which allow use of a "DANGEROUS" placard to indicate the presence of a mixture of hazardous materials.
Furthermore, placards may not always be removed immediately following the complete unloading of a trailer, even for those spotted in the yard. As a result of these practices, first responders arriving at the scene of a hazardous materials incident at a freight terminal may be unable to quickly and accurately determine the presence or absence of hazardous materials loaded on trailers at the facility based solely on placarding. Remember that when responding to chemical emergencies at freight terminals, many of the traditional remedies for dealing with highway transportation incidents may not work.
Of course, all of the information presented thus far assumes that first responders are notified of a release. Remember that the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires a facility to make an emergency notification of a chemical release only when the amount (as measured in pounds) exceeds an established limit, otherwise known as a "reportable quantity." However, this normally applies only when the release results in exposure beyond the facility boundaries. Furthermore, reporting guidelines generally require notification to a locality's Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC), not necessarily the fire department.
As with most other industrial facilities, the extent to which first responders receive notification of an accidental chemical release at a freight terminal will depend on the type and quantity of material released, whether the release gets off the terminal site, as well as on how information sent to the LEPC is passed along to first responders. However, there may also be local and state fire codes in your jurisdiction that mandate notifying the fire department if there is a release of a hazardous material. First responders should ensure that employees at freight terminals in their community are aware of these mandated notifications.
Of course, not all chemical releases at freight terminals are catastrophic to the community, and many companies have standing contracts with cleanup contractors to safely handle small spills that may occur. However, in very rare instances, first responders might receive an anonymous call from a disgruntled employee forced to clean up a chemical spill using generic oil absorbent while wearing nothing more than standard work clothing. Although this type of scenario is not the sole purview of the transportation industry, first responders should be prepared; it could be the source of a medical emergency, especially if patient decontamination is required.
Preplanning of freight terminals will provide limited information regarding specifics of hazardous materials handled at these sites, since the nature of commodities shipped and received changes daily. However, there are likely regular customers whose products are handled at the terminal, and employees there should be able to provide some idea of what first responders can expect in terms of the hazard class, type of containers, the average volume, and the frequency of shipments. First responders can also learn about the company's procedures for managing shipping papers and placarding while loading and unloading trailers at the dock. In addition, they can determine what actions dock personnel and supervisors have been instructed to take in a chemical emergency at the facility.
Freight terminals are an integral part of our nation's highway transportation system and allow for the efficient movement of products necessary for the quality of life we all enjoy. Yet, despite the benefits, these facilities present first responders with unique challenges when incidents involving the accidental release of hazardous materials or fires occur. Being familiar with these types of occupancies and the people who work there can go a long way to ensure that everyone goes home.
Endnotes
1 49CFR 172.602(c) (2)
2 49CFR 172.604(a) (2)
Click here for more info on Steven De Lisi's book, Hazardous Materials Incidents: Surviving the Initial Response.
Steven M. De Lisi retired after a fire service career spanning 27 years that included serving as a regional training manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) and, most recently, as the deputy chief for the Virginia Air Guard Fire Rescue. De Lisi is a hazardous materials specialist and as an adjunct instructor for VDFP. He continues to conduct hazardous materials awareness and operations-level training programs for fire suppression and EMS personnel. De Lisi began his career in hazardous materials response in 1982 as a member of the hazmat team with the Newport News (VA) Fire Department. Since then, he has also served as a hazardous materials officer for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; in that capacity, he provided on-scene assistance to first responders involved with hazardous materials incidents in an area that included more than 20 local jurisdictions.
Beyond the Rule of Thumb
Survival Tip 33
By Steven De Lisi
Incidents at freight terminals involving hazardous materials can present unique dangers to first responders. Operations at these facilities typically involve the unloading, sorting, and reloading of freight for distribution by highway transportation. Items handled can be anything from a small carton to large pieces of machinery. Totes, drums, and pails containing hazardous materials often move through these terminals, and although the percentage of items handled that are regulated as hazardous materials is relatively low when compared with other commodities,, the potential for a major incident is not. Yet, too many first responders pay little attention to freight terminals and instead focus their attention on more traditional hazardous materials facilities such as industrial plants and storage warehouses. First responders should definitely be concerned about the freight terminals that may be in their community.
Incidents at these facilities are often the results of rough handling of the containers, including those damaged as the result of having shifted during transportation. Remember, not all freight loaded on delivery trailers consists of shrink-wrapped pallets placed neatly on the floor. In reality, freight of all shapes and sizes is often stacked to maximize the volume of a trailer and load the greatest amount of material allowed by state and federal weight limits. Sudden stops and sharp turns during transportation can sometimes dislodge these items, damaging the containers. Usually, this damage and the subsequent release of product are not detected until the trailer doors are opened at the dock and workers are suddenly greeted with a pungent chemical odor.
Forklift blades also frequently damage containers. Punctures to metal and plastic containers usually occur when the containers are behind a pallet and the blades of the forklift used to move the pallet are longer than the pallet. If the blades of the forklift are placed completely through the pallet, the extra blade length will most likely puncture the container. This represents a serious problem for first responders: not only is the breach rectangular in shape, making it difficult to patch, but the breach is also on the lowest point of the container, resulting in the potential loss of the entire contents.
A fire on the loading dock of a freight terminal should be another cause for concern. While parked at the dock, there is typically less than 18 inches between trailers, so that a fire that starts in one trailer can rapidly extend to nearby trailers. Furthermore, many terminals have bay doors around the perimeter of the loading dock. These doors are normally maintained in the open position during hours of operation. In addition, most do not have cushions that seal the back of a trailer against the dock. As a result of these characteristics, first responders can encounter significant crosswinds during windy weather on a loading dock. These winds can increase when trailers are not in place at every door because the entire bay door opening is then exposed. The result is several thousand square feet of space under a metal roof loaded with large amounts of combustible materials and with significant horizontal ventilation in place prior to the arrival of fire suppression crews. The presence of numerous forklifts, each with its own propane cylinder (used as a fuel source), adds to the potential list of hazards for firefighters under these circumstances. Remember, too, that not all loading docks are equipped with automatic fire suppression systems. This fact, coupled with the inability to control air flow during the incipient stage, means that fires that occur on the dock or inside a trailer can intensify rapidly.
When dealing with hazardous materials incidents at freight terminals, since the products handled are in transition, some of the rules learned during hazardous materials awareness training may not apply. For example, although first responders are taught that shipping papers are normally in the possession of a driver or perhaps in a pouch on the driver's door or on the driver's seat when the vehicle is unattended, these requirements do not apply to trailers being loaded or unloaded at a dock These documents might be at a check stand next to the truck or trailer where the container is leaking or may be sitting on a forklift or in an office at the terminal. Federal transportation regulations require only that shipping papers be "in a location that is immediately accessible to facility personnel in the event of an incident involving the hazardous material." 1
Another problem is that although employees who ship or receive chemicals may have some knowledge regarding the hazardous nature of the material, those who handle freight on a loading dock generally have no experience dealing with the product should there be a release. And don't believe those who say that a material safety data sheet (MSDS) is required to be affixed to shipping papers! That claim is nothing more than a long-standing myth propagated by generations of well-meaning instructors of hazardous materials training programs. Although first responders may occasionally find an MSDS attached to shipping papers, this is rare and represents the exception rather than the rule.
In contrast to an MSDS, an emergency response telephone number is required by federal regulations. This number can be used to contact "a person who is either knowledgeable of the hazardous material being shipped and has comprehensive emergency response and incident mitigation information for that material or has immediate access to a person who possesses such knowledge and information." 2
Although this telephone number can be an effective means for obtaining emergency response information, remember that, as stated earlier, one of the challenges for first responders arriving at a freight terminal is simply locating the shipping papers. Even if their location is known, an evacuation of the facility may make access to these documents, whether on the dock or in an office, impossible.
Some first responders are well aware that many larger trucking companies will usually enter details from shipping papers into a computer database, thereby making this information readily available at a remote location. However, if the incident occurs at the terminal where the hazardous material involved was originally picked up, that information may not have been entered into the database before the incident occurred. This not only makes it more difficult for first responders because there is no backup documentation available but also because even the original bill of lading at the terminal may have been damaged or destroyed during the incident. If that is the case, then first responders may need to contact the shipper to obtain the original copy of the shipping paper. This could be difficult if the incident occurs outside of the shipper's normal working hours.
The decision to affix or remove hazardous materials placards for trailers placed at a loading dock and in the terminal yard is yet another problem. This practice all too often depends on internal company policies rather than federal transportation regulations. Some companies may require that dock workers continually change placards as materials are loaded and unloaded. Others allow their personnel to wait until the loading and unloading process has been completed. The latter approach allows final placarding to be based on a combination of hazard classes that may be loaded, many of which allow use of a "DANGEROUS" placard to indicate the presence of a mixture of hazardous materials.
Furthermore, placards may not always be removed immediately following the complete unloading of a trailer, even for those spotted in the yard. As a result of these practices, first responders arriving at the scene of a hazardous materials incident at a freight terminal may be unable to quickly and accurately determine the presence or absence of hazardous materials loaded on trailers at the facility based solely on placarding. Remember that when responding to chemical emergencies at freight terminals, many of the traditional remedies for dealing with highway transportation incidents may not work.
Of course, all of the information presented thus far assumes that first responders are notified of a release. Remember that the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires a facility to make an emergency notification of a chemical release only when the amount (as measured in pounds) exceeds an established limit, otherwise known as a "reportable quantity." However, this normally applies only when the release results in exposure beyond the facility boundaries. Furthermore, reporting guidelines generally require notification to a locality's Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC), not necessarily the fire department.
As with most other industrial facilities, the extent to which first responders receive notification of an accidental chemical release at a freight terminal will depend on the type and quantity of material released, whether the release gets off the terminal site, as well as on how information sent to the LEPC is passed along to first responders. However, there may also be local and state fire codes in your jurisdiction that mandate notifying the fire department if there is a release of a hazardous material. First responders should ensure that employees at freight terminals in their community are aware of these mandated notifications.
Of course, not all chemical releases at freight terminals are catastrophic to the community, and many companies have standing contracts with cleanup contractors to safely handle small spills that may occur. However, in very rare instances, first responders might receive an anonymous call from a disgruntled employee forced to clean up a chemical spill using generic oil absorbent while wearing nothing more than standard work clothing. Although this type of scenario is not the sole purview of the transportation industry, first responders should be prepared; it could be the source of a medical emergency, especially if patient decontamination is required.
Preplanning of freight terminals will provide limited information regarding specifics of hazardous materials handled at these sites, since the nature of commodities shipped and received changes daily. However, there are likely regular customers whose products are handled at the terminal, and employees there should be able to provide some idea of what first responders can expect in terms of the hazard class, type of containers, the average volume, and the frequency of shipments. First responders can also learn about the company's procedures for managing shipping papers and placarding while loading and unloading trailers at the dock. In addition, they can determine what actions dock personnel and supervisors have been instructed to take in a chemical emergency at the facility.
Freight terminals are an integral part of our nation's highway transportation system and allow for the efficient movement of products necessary for the quality of life we all enjoy. Yet, despite the benefits, these facilities present first responders with unique challenges when incidents involving the accidental release of hazardous materials or fires occur. Being familiar with these types of occupancies and the people who work there can go a long way to ensure that everyone goes home.
Endnotes
1 49CFR 172.602(c) (2)
2 49CFR 172.604(a) (2)
Click here for more info on Steven De Lisi's book, Hazardous Materials Incidents: Surviving the Initial Response.
Steven M. De Lisi retired after a fire service career spanning 27 years that included serving as a regional training manager for the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) and, most recently, as the deputy chief for the Virginia Air Guard Fire Rescue. De Lisi is a hazardous materials specialist and as an adjunct instructor for VDFP. He continues to conduct hazardous materials awareness and operations-level training programs for fire suppression and EMS personnel. De Lisi began his career in hazardous materials response in 1982 as a member of the hazmat team with the Newport News (VA) Fire Department. Since then, he has also served as a hazardous materials officer for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management; in that capacity, he provided on-scene assistance to first responders involved with hazardous materials incidents in an area that included more than 20 local jurisdictions.
White Powder Scare Cost Time and Money
White powder scares cost law enforcement time, money
USA Today - USA
White powder scares cost law enforcement time, money
Updated 10/12/2008 10:17 PM
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
Firefighters and federal agents have responded to more than 30,000 incidents involving suspicious powders, liquids or chemicals since 2001 in what authorities say is the terrifying legacy of the anthrax attacks after 9/11.
Postal service and law enforcement officials say thousands of the incidents are hoaxes involving white powder sent through the mail and thousands more are emergency calls to report powder found on countertops, in mailrooms and elsewhere.
"A single incident can warrant a huge response," says Billy Hayes of Washington, D.C.'s fire department. "It gets very expensive, not to mention the inconvenience."
There is no official count of the number of white powder calls in the seven years since letters poisoned with anthrax killed five people. But in just the past year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has responded to 2,893 incidents, many of which involved white powder, spokesman Douglas Bem says.
The FBI, which is called when a threatening note is found or when it otherwise appears a crime may have been committed, looked into more than 900 biological incidents from January 2007 to August 2008, "the majority of those incidents being white powder letters," spokesman Richard Kolko says.
So far this year, he says, "several dozen people" have been convicted under federal hoax and domestic terrorism laws. Among them: former nuclear engineer Michael Lee Braun, who was sentenced to more than four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $54,000 in fines and reimbursement for decontamination efforts, after sending dozens of threatening letters to government officials, journalists and businesses. Most of the letters contained white powder that he claimed was poison. It turned out to be baking soda.
"This is no joke and making these threats by mailing even harmless white powder can result in serious jail time for the offender," Kolko says.
None of the incidents since 2001 has involved anthrax or any substance nearly that dangerous.
But just in the past few weeks, white powder incidents have caused chaos in dozens of cities, including:
• In Providence, where a secretary in the state attorney general's office opened a piece of mail that contained white powder and a threatening note. The woman was taken to the hospital for decontamination, hazmat units and fire trucks responded and downtown traffic was tied up for nearly two hours, says Mike Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch.
The State Police are investigating the letter, which authorities believe came from a prisoner at the state's Adult Correctional Institutions, Healey said. "We don't take it lightly."
• In Daytona Beach, Fla., where state Sen. Evelyn Lynn's office was closed for more than four hours after a worker opened a letter containing white powder.
The scare followed four similar incidents at the central Florida offices of U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, a Republican. They're under investigation.
"This is a terrible thing for people to have to go through," said Lynn.
The response cost "easily thousands and thousands of dollars," she said. "It's very unfair to people, not only the money spent but … there is trauma afterwards."
• In West Jordan, Utah, near Salt Lake City, where workers at a Sportsmen's Warehouse were quarantined after being exposed to white powder while unloading a truck of goods from China.
The substance turned out to be a silicon powder used in shipping, but the response involved 25 members of the West Jordan Fire Department and an eight-person hazmat team.
"This was not only a huge cost but it took away from our (regular) service," says Assistant Chief Marc McElreath. "We were on the scene about five hours."
Authorities say they get calls that end up being everything from powdered milk spilled in an office kitchen to sand in an invitation to a beach wedding.
But a significant number of the incidents involve powder sent to terrorize someone — whether from an angry spouse, disgruntled employee or someone who feels he's been wronged in court or by a government agency.
"It's a great ploy for someone to try to bring attention to something," says Edward Moffitt of the Postal Inspection Service. But "it's very disruptive. There's a definite cost every time they respond."
USA Today - USA
White powder scares cost law enforcement time, money
Updated 10/12/2008 10:17 PM
By Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
Firefighters and federal agents have responded to more than 30,000 incidents involving suspicious powders, liquids or chemicals since 2001 in what authorities say is the terrifying legacy of the anthrax attacks after 9/11.
Postal service and law enforcement officials say thousands of the incidents are hoaxes involving white powder sent through the mail and thousands more are emergency calls to report powder found on countertops, in mailrooms and elsewhere.
"A single incident can warrant a huge response," says Billy Hayes of Washington, D.C.'s fire department. "It gets very expensive, not to mention the inconvenience."
There is no official count of the number of white powder calls in the seven years since letters poisoned with anthrax killed five people. But in just the past year, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has responded to 2,893 incidents, many of which involved white powder, spokesman Douglas Bem says.
The FBI, which is called when a threatening note is found or when it otherwise appears a crime may have been committed, looked into more than 900 biological incidents from January 2007 to August 2008, "the majority of those incidents being white powder letters," spokesman Richard Kolko says.
So far this year, he says, "several dozen people" have been convicted under federal hoax and domestic terrorism laws. Among them: former nuclear engineer Michael Lee Braun, who was sentenced to more than four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $54,000 in fines and reimbursement for decontamination efforts, after sending dozens of threatening letters to government officials, journalists and businesses. Most of the letters contained white powder that he claimed was poison. It turned out to be baking soda.
"This is no joke and making these threats by mailing even harmless white powder can result in serious jail time for the offender," Kolko says.
None of the incidents since 2001 has involved anthrax or any substance nearly that dangerous.
But just in the past few weeks, white powder incidents have caused chaos in dozens of cities, including:
• In Providence, where a secretary in the state attorney general's office opened a piece of mail that contained white powder and a threatening note. The woman was taken to the hospital for decontamination, hazmat units and fire trucks responded and downtown traffic was tied up for nearly two hours, says Mike Healey, spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch.
The State Police are investigating the letter, which authorities believe came from a prisoner at the state's Adult Correctional Institutions, Healey said. "We don't take it lightly."
• In Daytona Beach, Fla., where state Sen. Evelyn Lynn's office was closed for more than four hours after a worker opened a letter containing white powder.
The scare followed four similar incidents at the central Florida offices of U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney, a Republican. They're under investigation.
"This is a terrible thing for people to have to go through," said Lynn.
The response cost "easily thousands and thousands of dollars," she said. "It's very unfair to people, not only the money spent but … there is trauma afterwards."
• In West Jordan, Utah, near Salt Lake City, where workers at a Sportsmen's Warehouse were quarantined after being exposed to white powder while unloading a truck of goods from China.
The substance turned out to be a silicon powder used in shipping, but the response involved 25 members of the West Jordan Fire Department and an eight-person hazmat team.
"This was not only a huge cost but it took away from our (regular) service," says Assistant Chief Marc McElreath. "We were on the scene about five hours."
Authorities say they get calls that end up being everything from powdered milk spilled in an office kitchen to sand in an invitation to a beach wedding.
But a significant number of the incidents involve powder sent to terrorize someone — whether from an angry spouse, disgruntled employee or someone who feels he's been wronged in court or by a government agency.
"It's a great ploy for someone to try to bring attention to something," says Edward Moffitt of the Postal Inspection Service. But "it's very disruptive. There's a definite cost every time they respond."
Spill Drill Helps Prepare in Dalton, GA
Spill drill helps agencies prepare for the real thing
Daily Citizen - Dalton,GA,USA
Published: October 08, 2008 07:33 pm
Kim Sloan
At 9:30 Wednesday morning two people walked out of Harcros Chemicals on Phelps Road and spoke to a team of emergency workers.
“We can’t breathe,” said Kara Maas, clutching her chest and trying to shield herself from the rain.
Maas and Victor Maltavo, students from the Whitfield County Career Academy, were playing “victims” during a simulated emergency drill to test a multi-agency response to a chemical spill.
Emergency crews were called to the business around 9 a.m. to reports that about 300 gallons of 12.5 percent bleach had spilled. Maas and Maltavo were able to get out of the building. A third person was “hurt” trying to leave the area,
Whitfield County and Dalton firefighters set up decontamination tents and dressed firefighters in bright red Hazmat (hazardous materials) suits to prepare them to enter the building. The reverse 911 system was used to call residents within a two-mile area. Valley Point Elementary and Middle Schools about a mile and a half away were readied for use for any potential evacuees, with students pretending to be victims.
At 10:30 a.m., Jeffrey Putnam, director of Whitfield County’s Emergency Management Agency, met with the media to continue the simulation.
“(The bleach) is going into a drainage pond that has a chemical are they are reacting,” Putnam said.
By the time the drill ended shortly before noon, 30 more people who “self-evacuated” arrived at Hamilton Medical Center to be treated, said Matthew Crumpton, trauma and emergency coordinator for the hospital. They were also students from the Career Academy.
Emergency personnel worked in the driving rain. Had there been a real spill, the rain would have made their response more difficult, officials said.
An overflowing storage tank at the Harcros Chemicals plant in August of last year resulted in a spill of 30 to 40 gallons of toxic anhydrous ammonia, forcing the evacuation of nearby residents and more than 400 workers from neighboring plants.
A chemical spill at MFG Chemical in Dalton in 2004 forced more than 200 families from their homes and saw 154 people, including police and ambulance personnel, seek treatment for chemical exposure. Federal officials said following a review of that incident that problems with emergency response underscored “a nationwide problem.”
Emergency officials are expected to review evaluations over the next few weeks to assess the response to Wednesday’s drill. Participating agencies included the Whitfield County Fire Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Fire Department, Dalton Police Department, Dalton State College Police Department, National Weather Service, Whitfield County Schools, the North Georgia Health District, the Medical Reserve Corps of the health district and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
Daily Citizen - Dalton,GA,USA
Published: October 08, 2008 07:33 pm
Kim Sloan
At 9:30 Wednesday morning two people walked out of Harcros Chemicals on Phelps Road and spoke to a team of emergency workers.
“We can’t breathe,” said Kara Maas, clutching her chest and trying to shield herself from the rain.
Maas and Victor Maltavo, students from the Whitfield County Career Academy, were playing “victims” during a simulated emergency drill to test a multi-agency response to a chemical spill.
Emergency crews were called to the business around 9 a.m. to reports that about 300 gallons of 12.5 percent bleach had spilled. Maas and Maltavo were able to get out of the building. A third person was “hurt” trying to leave the area,
Whitfield County and Dalton firefighters set up decontamination tents and dressed firefighters in bright red Hazmat (hazardous materials) suits to prepare them to enter the building. The reverse 911 system was used to call residents within a two-mile area. Valley Point Elementary and Middle Schools about a mile and a half away were readied for use for any potential evacuees, with students pretending to be victims.
At 10:30 a.m., Jeffrey Putnam, director of Whitfield County’s Emergency Management Agency, met with the media to continue the simulation.
“(The bleach) is going into a drainage pond that has a chemical are they are reacting,” Putnam said.
By the time the drill ended shortly before noon, 30 more people who “self-evacuated” arrived at Hamilton Medical Center to be treated, said Matthew Crumpton, trauma and emergency coordinator for the hospital. They were also students from the Career Academy.
Emergency personnel worked in the driving rain. Had there been a real spill, the rain would have made their response more difficult, officials said.
An overflowing storage tank at the Harcros Chemicals plant in August of last year resulted in a spill of 30 to 40 gallons of toxic anhydrous ammonia, forcing the evacuation of nearby residents and more than 400 workers from neighboring plants.
A chemical spill at MFG Chemical in Dalton in 2004 forced more than 200 families from their homes and saw 154 people, including police and ambulance personnel, seek treatment for chemical exposure. Federal officials said following a review of that incident that problems with emergency response underscored “a nationwide problem.”
Emergency officials are expected to review evaluations over the next few weeks to assess the response to Wednesday’s drill. Participating agencies included the Whitfield County Fire Department, Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Fire Department, Dalton Police Department, Dalton State College Police Department, National Weather Service, Whitfield County Schools, the North Georgia Health District, the Medical Reserve Corps of the health district and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.
VA Hospital Shut Down for Hazmat Response
VA's ER briefly shut down
The Southern - Carbondale,IL,USA
By John D. Homan, The Southern
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 11:28 PM CDT
MARION - A rash of unknown origin that was spotted late in the work day Wednesday on an employee opening mail at the VA Medical Center in Marion temporarily shut down the hospital's emergency room and left the administration building quarantined.
Hospital spokeswoman Peggy Willoughby said the emergency room and administration building reopened at roughly 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, after being shut down for between four and five hours.
The problem began when the employee - whose name and title Willoughby said she could not reveal - was dispatched to the center's emergency room and the decontamination unit on campus was activated. The Marion Fire Department was then contacted.
Capt. Terry Walsh with Marion said about 20 firefighters with specialized hazardous material training were sent to the VA from the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) 45 Hazmat Team, including seven from Marion; three from Johnston City; three from the Williamson County Fire Protection District; three from Herrin; one from Carbondale Township and an unspecified number from Murphysboro.
Willoughby said the Hazmat unit had entered the administration building shortly after 9 p.m., which is where the employee was working that afternoon. The administration building is separate from the hospital and is also referred to as the "modular" building.
Willoughby said all tests conducted by the unit, including biological, radiological and PH, came back negative, allowing the facility to be reopened.
Had any veteran needed emergency care during Wednesday's shut down, Willoughby said, he or she would have been forwarded to Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.
john.homan@thesouthern.com
The Southern - Carbondale,IL,USA
By John D. Homan, The Southern
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 11:28 PM CDT
MARION - A rash of unknown origin that was spotted late in the work day Wednesday on an employee opening mail at the VA Medical Center in Marion temporarily shut down the hospital's emergency room and left the administration building quarantined.
Hospital spokeswoman Peggy Willoughby said the emergency room and administration building reopened at roughly 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, after being shut down for between four and five hours.
The problem began when the employee - whose name and title Willoughby said she could not reveal - was dispatched to the center's emergency room and the decontamination unit on campus was activated. The Marion Fire Department was then contacted.
Capt. Terry Walsh with Marion said about 20 firefighters with specialized hazardous material training were sent to the VA from the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) 45 Hazmat Team, including seven from Marion; three from Johnston City; three from the Williamson County Fire Protection District; three from Herrin; one from Carbondale Township and an unspecified number from Murphysboro.
Willoughby said the Hazmat unit had entered the administration building shortly after 9 p.m., which is where the employee was working that afternoon. The administration building is separate from the hospital and is also referred to as the "modular" building.
Willoughby said all tests conducted by the unit, including biological, radiological and PH, came back negative, allowing the facility to be reopened.
Had any veteran needed emergency care during Wednesday's shut down, Willoughby said, he or she would have been forwarded to Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.
john.homan@thesouthern.com
Local Personnel Prepare in case of Hazmat Emergency
Local Personnel Prepare in case of Hazmat Emergency
Greenwood Today - Greenwood,SC,USA
Lesley Lane - GwdToday News Reporter 06.OCT.08
A simulated train derailment Saturday morning, spilling thousand of gallons of toxic chemicals got city and county emergency personnel on the move as they participated in a functional training exercise at the Greenwood Civic Center.
Greenwood County Emergency Management simulated a hazmat spill Saturday that spanned across both city and county jurisdictions in and effort to properly and efficiently prepare emergency personnel for an actual spill.
The objectives of the day were to test and communicate response plans, establish and operate a unified command post and to establish and operate a chemical decontamination tent.
The simulation was that of a train that had derailed, spilling a large tanker filled with liquid formaldehyde and two tankers filled with chlorine in vapor form.
Local Boy Scouts from troops 270, 313, 911 and 53 participated in the simulation as victims who had been contaminated during the spill.
The boy scouts were sent through a chemical decontamination tent where they were sprayed with water and scrubbed with brushes by emergency personnel dressed in full Hazmat gear.
Members of the Greenwood Fire Department practiced getting the boys through the decontamination zone as quickly as possible in an effort to prevent skin and respiratory burns from the chemicals as if they had actually come in contact with them.
According to Greenwood County public safety Commander George McKinney, in a real life chemical spill where victims come in contact with toxic chemicals, emergency personnel would spray victims with a low grade bleach solution, an agent which counteracts the chemicals. For Saturday’s exercise, only water was used.
A unified command post was also set up where emergency personnel from both city and county jurisdictions came together to operate a single command post.
“The spill was simulated to cross into both city and county jurisdictions. We combined personnel from both jurisdiction to create one command”, said McKinney.
Agencies present and participating in Saturday’s event included, Greenwood City Police Department, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Coronaca Fire Department, Northwest Fire Department, Hwy 34 Fire Department, Greenwood City Fire Department, Greenwood County EMS, 911 Dispatch, Radio Communications, DHEC, Self Regional, The Red Cross and the Coroners Office.
Greenwood Today - Greenwood,SC,USA
Lesley Lane - GwdToday News Reporter 06.OCT.08
A simulated train derailment Saturday morning, spilling thousand of gallons of toxic chemicals got city and county emergency personnel on the move as they participated in a functional training exercise at the Greenwood Civic Center.
Greenwood County Emergency Management simulated a hazmat spill Saturday that spanned across both city and county jurisdictions in and effort to properly and efficiently prepare emergency personnel for an actual spill.
The objectives of the day were to test and communicate response plans, establish and operate a unified command post and to establish and operate a chemical decontamination tent.
The simulation was that of a train that had derailed, spilling a large tanker filled with liquid formaldehyde and two tankers filled with chlorine in vapor form.
Local Boy Scouts from troops 270, 313, 911 and 53 participated in the simulation as victims who had been contaminated during the spill.
The boy scouts were sent through a chemical decontamination tent where they were sprayed with water and scrubbed with brushes by emergency personnel dressed in full Hazmat gear.
Members of the Greenwood Fire Department practiced getting the boys through the decontamination zone as quickly as possible in an effort to prevent skin and respiratory burns from the chemicals as if they had actually come in contact with them.
According to Greenwood County public safety Commander George McKinney, in a real life chemical spill where victims come in contact with toxic chemicals, emergency personnel would spray victims with a low grade bleach solution, an agent which counteracts the chemicals. For Saturday’s exercise, only water was used.
A unified command post was also set up where emergency personnel from both city and county jurisdictions came together to operate a single command post.
“The spill was simulated to cross into both city and county jurisdictions. We combined personnel from both jurisdiction to create one command”, said McKinney.
Agencies present and participating in Saturday’s event included, Greenwood City Police Department, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Coronaca Fire Department, Northwest Fire Department, Hwy 34 Fire Department, Greenwood City Fire Department, Greenwood County EMS, 911 Dispatch, Radio Communications, DHEC, Self Regional, The Red Cross and the Coroners Office.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Oklahoma Hazmat Gear Sees Some Action
Oklahoma Hazmat gear sees some action
By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
10/5/2008
Tulsa and OKC firefighters are striving to keep equipment meant for homeland security in use.
Fire departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City are having to be creative to keep millions of dollars in Homeland Security equipment off the shelf and in good working order.
During the past three years, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have received special HAZMAT trucks and rescue vehicles as part of a statewide preparedness system established after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The specialized trucks and accompanying equipment are linked to the Homeland Security funding bonanza following the attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Since 2001, Oklahoma has received about $170 million for homeland security and emergency preparedness, with the bulk of the money flowing in after 9-11, records show.
The Tulsa World asked firefighters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa how often the terrorist and rescue equipment is used. Other equipment is sitting idle or being used by first responders across Oklahoma, according to a Tulsa World investigation in 2006.
During the past two years, most of the specialized trucks and rigs delivered to Oklahoma City and Tulsa have seen limited duty since there have been no terrorist attacks in Oklahoma, and fire departments already had HAZMAT units and rescue units in place before Sept. 11, 2001.
For example, since its delivery 30 months ago, a special HAZMAT unit in Tulsa has not been officially deployed for the state's regional response system, said Capt. Bill Lind, HAZMAT coordinator for the Tulsa Fire Department.
Similar to a fire truck, the specialized rig cost $750,000. The fire department keeps the truck in working order by rotating it into frontline HAZMAT duty once a month, Lind said.
Meanwhile, Tulsa's mass-decontamination unit — a $270,000 trailer and truck — has not been called out for official duty since it was received two years ago, Lind said.
The decontamination unit would be used to scrub down a large number of people exposed to chemical or radiological elements.
When asked if the equipment is overkill or truly needed, Lind said: "It is definitely not overkill. The equipment is useful because in the event of a terrorist attack or major disaster the equipment is vital for the rescue and well-being of the citizens. Try to get through a major disaster or event without it, and you will see the need for it."
In March 2006, Tulsa and Oklahoma City received two specialized trucks known as CBRNE units, or enhanced HAZMAT units. The trucks and crew can respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) attacks.
In early 2007, Tulsa and Oklahoma City each received an urban-search-and-rescue rig and accompanying equipment.
Costing $1.2 million each, the rescue rigs come with an extensive equipment cache that includes shoring equipment, concrete saws and hydraulic spreaders to rescue trapped people.
While equipment purchased with Homeland Security money was primarily designated for a terrorism response, it also is designated for an all-hazards response that includes natural disasters, said Kerry Pettingill, director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. Some of the equipment creates a needed redundancy in HAZMAT and rescue gear, he said.
To keep the equipment operational, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have found creative ways to use the equipment for chemical spills and other hazardous material and responses to natural disasters such as ice storms and tornadoes.
Due to this use, Tulsa's search-and-rescue rig has seen a little more duty than the CBRNE and mass-decontamination units. That rig has been deployed three times in 18 months.
It was used for search-and-rescue work after the Picher tornado struck in May and the massive ice storm hit Tulsa in December, said Dennis Beyer, chief of homeland security for the Tulsa Fire Department.
In Oklahoma City, firefighters have used their CBRNE unit extensively for chemical spills and other emergency calls. In the past year, the unit has responded to 28 HAZMAT calls inside and outside the city and assisted on 54 calls within the city, said Cecil Clay, deputy chief of the Oklahoma City Fire Department.
However, Oklahoma City's search-and-rescue unit and mass-decontamination unit have only been deployed once in about 18 months, Clay said.
"There is absolutely a need for all this equipment,'' Clay said. "If you had another Murrah bombing, it would be needed. In fact more equipment would be needed for that kind of event.''
Meanwhile, seven years after the terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists, the state continues to receive millions of dollars in Homeland Security funding, and the state still has millions on hand to be allocated, records show.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security received $13.2 million in 2008, Pettingill said. A Tulsa World investigation in 2006 revealed that the state Homeland Security office had $81 million in unspent funds. While the state Homeland Security office has gotten better at allocating federal money, the office still has about $54 million on hand to be allocated or encumbered, Pettingill said.
"Most of the funding is obligated and will be spent or it will be obligated to be spent soon on projects," Pettingill said.
By OMER GILLHAM World Staff Writer
10/5/2008
Tulsa and OKC firefighters are striving to keep equipment meant for homeland security in use.
Fire departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City are having to be creative to keep millions of dollars in Homeland Security equipment off the shelf and in good working order.
During the past three years, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have received special HAZMAT trucks and rescue vehicles as part of a statewide preparedness system established after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
The specialized trucks and accompanying equipment are linked to the Homeland Security funding bonanza following the attacks on New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Since 2001, Oklahoma has received about $170 million for homeland security and emergency preparedness, with the bulk of the money flowing in after 9-11, records show.
The Tulsa World asked firefighters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa how often the terrorist and rescue equipment is used. Other equipment is sitting idle or being used by first responders across Oklahoma, according to a Tulsa World investigation in 2006.
During the past two years, most of the specialized trucks and rigs delivered to Oklahoma City and Tulsa have seen limited duty since there have been no terrorist attacks in Oklahoma, and fire departments already had HAZMAT units and rescue units in place before Sept. 11, 2001.
For example, since its delivery 30 months ago, a special HAZMAT unit in Tulsa has not been officially deployed for the state's regional response system, said Capt. Bill Lind, HAZMAT coordinator for the Tulsa Fire Department.
Similar to a fire truck, the specialized rig cost $750,000. The fire department keeps the truck in working order by rotating it into frontline HAZMAT duty once a month, Lind said.
Meanwhile, Tulsa's mass-decontamination unit — a $270,000 trailer and truck — has not been called out for official duty since it was received two years ago, Lind said.
The decontamination unit would be used to scrub down a large number of people exposed to chemical or radiological elements.
When asked if the equipment is overkill or truly needed, Lind said: "It is definitely not overkill. The equipment is useful because in the event of a terrorist attack or major disaster the equipment is vital for the rescue and well-being of the citizens. Try to get through a major disaster or event without it, and you will see the need for it."
In March 2006, Tulsa and Oklahoma City received two specialized trucks known as CBRNE units, or enhanced HAZMAT units. The trucks and crew can respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) attacks.
In early 2007, Tulsa and Oklahoma City each received an urban-search-and-rescue rig and accompanying equipment.
Costing $1.2 million each, the rescue rigs come with an extensive equipment cache that includes shoring equipment, concrete saws and hydraulic spreaders to rescue trapped people.
While equipment purchased with Homeland Security money was primarily designated for a terrorism response, it also is designated for an all-hazards response that includes natural disasters, said Kerry Pettingill, director of the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. Some of the equipment creates a needed redundancy in HAZMAT and rescue gear, he said.
To keep the equipment operational, Tulsa and Oklahoma City have found creative ways to use the equipment for chemical spills and other hazardous material and responses to natural disasters such as ice storms and tornadoes.
Due to this use, Tulsa's search-and-rescue rig has seen a little more duty than the CBRNE and mass-decontamination units. That rig has been deployed three times in 18 months.
It was used for search-and-rescue work after the Picher tornado struck in May and the massive ice storm hit Tulsa in December, said Dennis Beyer, chief of homeland security for the Tulsa Fire Department.
In Oklahoma City, firefighters have used their CBRNE unit extensively for chemical spills and other emergency calls. In the past year, the unit has responded to 28 HAZMAT calls inside and outside the city and assisted on 54 calls within the city, said Cecil Clay, deputy chief of the Oklahoma City Fire Department.
However, Oklahoma City's search-and-rescue unit and mass-decontamination unit have only been deployed once in about 18 months, Clay said.
"There is absolutely a need for all this equipment,'' Clay said. "If you had another Murrah bombing, it would be needed. In fact more equipment would be needed for that kind of event.''
Meanwhile, seven years after the terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists, the state continues to receive millions of dollars in Homeland Security funding, and the state still has millions on hand to be allocated, records show.
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security received $13.2 million in 2008, Pettingill said. A Tulsa World investigation in 2006 revealed that the state Homeland Security office had $81 million in unspent funds. While the state Homeland Security office has gotten better at allocating federal money, the office still has about $54 million on hand to be allocated or encumbered, Pettingill said.
"Most of the funding is obligated and will be spent or it will be obligated to be spent soon on projects," Pettingill said.
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