HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974 Disaster Planning Guide for Business and Industry The likelihood that the kinds of natural disasters is located, the intensity of its winds, and speed and
cited in this chapter would ever strike your company direction of movement.
may be very small; but you should plan to deal with If a hurricane moves toward the mainland, hur-
all the following: ricane watch notices are included. A hurricane watch
' 1. Forest Fires 4. Tornadoes does not constitute a warning that hurricane condi-
lions are imminent, but rather indicates that the
2. Hurricanes 5. Winter Storms
3. Floods 6. Earthouakes , hurricane is close — and that everyone in the area
covered by the watch should listen for further advis-
ories and be ready to take precautionary actions.
FOREST FIRES As soon as the forecaster determines that a par -
Any small fire in a wooded area, if not quickly titular section of the coast will feel the full effects
detected and suppressed, can get out of control. An of a hurricane, he issues a hurricane warning. Hur
uncontrolled fire is one of the most destructive ricane warnings specify coastal areas where winds
forces caused by nature or by man. It is a multiple of 74 m.p.h. or higher are expected. When the warn -
killer of people, livestock, fish, and wildlife. It can ing is issued, all precautions should be taken immed-
destroy property, timber, forage, watersheds, rec- iately against the full force of the storm.
reational facilities, and scenic values. Severe soil FLOODS
erosion, silting of stream beds and reservoirs, and
flooding often are the legacy of uncontrolled fire. Except in the case of flash flooding, the onset of
Responsibility for fire protection on Federal lands most floods is a relatively slow process — with ade-
is centered primarily in the Department of Agricul- quate warning. The buildup usually takes several
ture, the Department of Interior, and to a lesser days. Progressive situation reports are available t
degree in such agencies as the Department of De- from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
fense and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The States Administration, through its Weather Service River
have recognized their responsibilities on State and Forecast Centers and River District Offices. #
private forest lands through passage of numerous Flash flood warnings are the most urgent type of 1
laws, and have set up State forest agencies to protect flood warnings issued. These are transmitted to the
these resources. In many instances, private interests public over radio and television. They should be
have established their own fire control organizations. transmitted also through local warning systems, by (It -,4
As the protection of natural resources often tran- means of sirens, horns, or whistles; through tele- , t
scends property and State lines, strong ties of coor- phone alerts; or by means of police cars using
dination and cooperation have developed among pri- loudspeakers.
vate, local, State and Federal agencies. If your community has a history of recurring
In addition to training and equipping their own fire floods, the community's minimum requirement is to
department personnel for brush and forest firefight- establish continuing communication with the National 1
ing, plants near forest areas should consider such Weather Service. For example, flood forecasts and
activities as fire prevention programs, obtaining warnings should be telephoned to the local police
fire weather forecasts from the National Weather headquarters, or some other centralized facility, at
Service, and development of mutual -aid compacts agreed -upon periods. During the flood - control plan- 4
with other plants, adjacent communities, and private ning phase, communities should coordinate closely
agencies. Employees can be trained and equipped to with the nearest office of the U.S. Army Corps of
fight forest fires without much cost in time and mon- Engineers, in accordance with established State pro -
ey. Plant fire departments can provide tlie nucleus of cedures. Also, the Corps of Engineers can provide
a force that can prevent, detect, or suppress forest preventive assistance for flood control as authorized
fires before they reach the disaster stage. under Public Law 99.
• HURRICANES
//' TORNADOES Tornadoes are violent local storms with whirling c
The •National Weather Service is responsible for winds of tremendous speed that can reach 200400
issuing warnings when hurricanes appear to be a m.p.h. The individual tornado appears as a rotating,
threat to the U.S. mainland. funnel- shaped cloud which extends toward the ground t
As soon as there are definite indications that a from the base of a thundercloud. It varies from gray -
hurricane is forming, even though it is a thousand to black in color. The tornado spins like a top, and
miles or more from the mainland, the storm is given may sound like the roaring of an airplane or locomo-
a name and the Weather Service begins issuing "ad- tive. These small, short -lived storms are the most
visories." The advisories are issued frequently violent of all atmospheric phenomena; and over a
throughout the day and night and tell where the storm small area, are the most destructive.
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The width of a tornado path ranges generally from EARTHQUAKES
00 yards to one mile. They travel 5 to 50 miles Earthquakes are unpredictable and strike with -
along the ground, at speeds of 30 to 75 m.p.h. Tor- out warning. They may range in intensity from
nadoes sometimes double back or move in circles; slight tremors to great shocks; and may last from
and some have remained motionless for a while be- a few seconds to as much as 5 minutes. They could 1
fore moving on. They have struck in every State, but come in a series over a period of several days. The
the principal areas of frequency are in the Middle actual movement of the ground in an earthquake is
Plain:, a a Southeastern_ ctetec co!,r., ti,P '!'t (-Alice of injury or death. Most
1 Because tornadoes are highly localized and recur- casualties result from falling materials. Quakes
ring in some areas, it is recommended that plants can disrupt power and telephone lines, and gas,
in areas prone to tornadoes participate in a Tornado sewer, or water mains. They may also trigger land -
Watch System built around a local emergency ser- slides and generate tidal waves.
vice (usually the local police department). During the Shaking employees should be warned
The National Weather Service is responsible for to (1) Stay indoors if already there; (2) take cover
issuing weather warnings to the public. Severe under sturdy furniture such as work tables; (3)Stay
weather warnings are issued, using the following near the center of the building; (4) Stay away from
terms: Severe Thunderstorm indicates the possi- glass windows and doors; and (5) not run through or
bility of frequent lightning and /or damaging winds near buildings where there is danger of falling de-
of greater than 50 m.p.h., hail 3/4 -inch or more in bris. If employees are outside, they should stay in
diameter (about the size of a dime), and heavy rain; the open, away from buildings and utility wires.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch indicates the possibility of After the Shaking employees should stay out of dam -
tornadoes, thunderstorms, frequent lightning, hail, aged buildings; the aftershock can shake them down.
and winds of greater than 75 m.p.h.; Tornado Watch Plant officials should check utilities. If water pipes
means that tornadoes are expected to develop; and are damaged or electrical wires are shorting, they
Tornado Warning means that a tornado has actually should be turned off at the primary control point. If
been sighted in the area, or is indicated by radar. gas leakage is detected, the main valve should be
shut off, windows opened and the building cleared
WINTER STORMS until utility officials say it is safe.
t Winter storms vary in size and intensity. A storm
ay affect only part of a State or many States, and MAN -MADE DISASTERS
may be a minor ice storm or a full -blown blizzard. All progressive employers and employees think
Prestorm- Season Preparations in terms of on- the -job safety, and most plant man-
agers have taken steps to assure some degree of
1. Organize mobile emergency rescue and med- plant security. However, a foolproof system of safe -
ical teams, if these would be useful in your ty and security has yet to be devised. It is the re-
area. sponsibility of management to plan for possible
2. Contact your local government or the breakdowns in their systems.
National Weather Service and learn winter Potential disasters caused by man should be in-
storm warnings that pertain to your area. eluded when developing your company emergency
3. Publish winter storm safety rules in the plan. The following are discussed in this chapter:
plant newspaper. 1. Plant Fires
4. To determine their capability to assist under 2. Chemical Accidents i
varying winter storm situations, and to what 3. Transportation Accidents 1
extent, contact other plants, and — through your
4. Public Demonstrations /Civil Disturbances
Local civil preparedness agency — military
5. Bomb Threats
units and installations, Civil Air Patrol units 6. Sabotage
(CAP), amateur radio operators and organi- 7, Radiological Accidents
zations (e.g., RACES), and private organiza g, Nuclear Attack
tions and associations.
•
5. Determine location and amounts of snow •
fencing available, and of sand and salt. Ob- PLANT FIRES
rt
tain and position supplies as required. The most important aspect of plans for coping 5
• 6. Designate snow emergency routes and place with major plant fires is development of mutual
identifying signs within the yard areas of the assistance agreements with local governments,
plant. other plants, and nearby Federal installations. Fire
7. Establish a system for "employee- stay- home" control methods and techniques vary widely in dif-
0 announcements, ferent parts of the country, as well as between the
3
various fire protection agencies. It is difficult to Transportation Emergency Information "Chem- Cards"
prescribe standard procedures. Plant fire organi- (These cover specific chemicals moved in tan'
motor vehicles which possess flammable, oxidizing
zations generally develop plans and procedures over corrosive, poisonous, and other hazardous properties.)
the years to meet various fire hazards.
Marine Emergency "Cargo Information Cards"
Smaller plants usually cannot afford to maintain (These are carried in the pilot house of a vessel tow -
the standing forces required to meet a major fire ing tank barges, and on the barges. The information of
situation, so they rely on local government services these cards includes the hazards of chemicals and
and mutual aid. To be effective in cases of Large recommendations on handling fires, chemical leaks, and
fires, industrial explosions. and forest fires, mu- human exposure threats.)
, r a u oua i Agricultural unemtsts Association
tual aid requires good communications, accessibility 1155 - 15th Street, NW
to the fire scene, prearrangements for use of ap- Washington, D.C. 20005
paratus and manpower, and centralized command. (Members of this Association have a network of more
The biggest single need usually is not manpower than 40 safety teams nationwide prepared for prompt i
cleanup and decontamination of poison pesticides in-
and equipment. Most often it is the ability to respond volved in a major accident.)
quickly and to confine the fire to manageable limits Association of American Railroads,
before it reaches the disaster stage. This calls for Bureau of Explosives,
a prefire plan of action for mutual aid response by 1920 L Street, NW.,
existing local fire organizations. Where such plans Washington, D.C. 20036. .
exist at the time of a Large fire, the emergency usu- Publications:
ally is manageable, with life and property loss held B.E. Pamphlet No. 8A, Dangerous Articles Emergency
to a minimum. Guide ..
B.E. Pamphlet No 22, Handling Collisions and Derail-
ments Involving Explosives, Gasoline, and other
CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS Dangerous Articles
B.E. Pamphlet No. 29, Procedures for Handling
Several thousand chemicals in daily use can Special Atomic Energy Commission Shipments
cause a plant emergency which would affect a sub-
stantial number of employees and others in the neigh- TRANSPORTATION ACCIDENTS
borhood of the plant. These effects could include Almost every plant is exposed daily to the
massive contamination of a community, explosions, possibility of air, automobile, railroad, or shi ;`
and fires. The U.S. Department of Transportation ping accidents in or near its boundaries. Plant of
is responsible for regulating the movement of haz- . ficials should be prepared to handle the type of
ardous chemicals; and hazardous chemicals being problems they will have to face if their plant has a
transported interstate must be labelled with appro- major transportation accident.
priate{ words of identification and caution. Since not all plants have the same exposure nor j
Plant officials should be extremely careful in the the same resources to handle such emergencies, it .
use of hazardous chemicals in all plant processes is recommended that each plant develop its own plan
and productions, and should be aware of their use of action — including agreements on giving and receiv-
in neighboring plants. Care should be taken to post ing mutual aid. Local plans should include listings
throughout the plant the location, hazardous prop- of the type of equipment or services needed, the
erties, and characteristics of individual chemicals, source and location of the equipment or services,
and their potential hazardous reactions to each other. the person or point of contact to give or obtain im-
Plant emergency coordinators and safety person- . mediate response to an emergency request, and the
nel should be familiar with the following sources of means and method of compensating (if appropriate) for
technical information on chemical hazards: the use of the equipment or services in an emergency.
Major transportation accidents often cause chemi-
National Fire Protection Association, cal spills, fires, explosions, and other results,
60 Batterymarch Street, which call for special operations, such as rescue
Boston, Mass., 02110 P P +
and evacuation. Usually, transportation accidents
Publications: affect only relatively small areas and involve only
No. 49— Hazardous Chemicals Data a small number of people.
No. 325 — Properties of Flammable Liquids, Gases and An airplane crash may create the need for fire -
Volatile Solids
No. 491— Manual of Hazardous Chemical Reactions. fighting and other operations in the area of impact.
No. 704M —Fire Hazards of Materials An automobile crash involving buses or carriers
Manufacturing Chemists Association, of hazardous cargoes can involve substantial rescue,
1825 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. firefighting, and evacuation operations. Washington, D.C. 20009 A railroad accident can produce hazardous sit -
Chemical Safety Data Sheets uations when it occurs in or near plants — partici 'µY
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