InfoGram

February 10, 2005

NOTE: This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the emergency management and response sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. It has been prepared by NATEK Incorporated for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

Measures to Reduce HazMat Disasters

Recent hazardous material (HazMat) accidents raised concerns about the safety of HazMat movement, accident prevention measures, and accident response capabilities. These apprehensions may be justified because approximately 800,000 shipments of HazMat substances travel daily throughout the United States by ground, rail, air, water, and pipeline, according to the 28 January Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An editorial note in the MMWR states: "Although nearly all of these materials safely reach their destinations, many are explosive, flammable, toxic, and corrosive and can be extremely dangerous when improperly released." The report further indicates that HazMat frequently move "over, through, and under areas that are densely populated or populated by schools, hospitals, or nursing homes, where the consequences of a release could cause severe injury, death, environmental damage, and economic loss."

Recognizing the catastrophic potential of a deliberate attack or another transport accident involving HazMat, the MMWR offered the following measures that government, private organizations, and first responders can implement to reduce morbidity and mortality from transit-associated HazMat releases:

• Route HazMat away from densely populated areas, where feasible.
• Use HazMat Emergency Events Surveillance data or other federal, state, and local databases to determine where most releases occur.
• Revise emergency response plans to include a community-based public education campaign detailing proper evacuation, shelter-in-place, and decontamination procedures.
• Employ public warning systems, public shelters, and practice drills.
• Ensure HazMat handlers receive continuous job safety training and have appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Ensure emergency medical service and hospital emergency department personnel have the guidance to plan for and respond to HazMat incidents involving human exposure.
• Emphasize the importance of preventive maintenance for equipment and vehicles used in HazMat transport.

Emergency Equipment Theft

Six hazardous material response suits, two oxygen cylinders, and an emergency vehicle light bar were stolen from a fire department storage shed three week's ago. Investigators usually conclude that the perpetrators were not terrorists in similar cases where the thieves have been apprehended. Nevertheless, the possibility exists that the next burglary will be committed by individuals who will attempt to use stolen property to conceal their real identity and blend with first responders at the scene of an incident. The EMR-ISAC reminds first response personnel that the thefts of emergency equipment, vehicles, uniforms, and badges continue occasionally throughout the country. This fact necessitates that they actively enforce effective theft prevention measures. It is also important to comprehend how terrorists can use these stolen items to access an event site and make first responders their secondary targets.

Discerning who and what belongs at the location of a major emergency is another challenge for the incident commander and subordinate leaders, particularly at incidents with large numbers of responders, apparatus, and equipment. Therefore, the EMR-ISAC proposes that all emergency responders be trained to scan an incident scene for suspicious people, vehicles, and packages. Habitually, they should be observant for things that don't make sense, like a firefighter wearing turnout gear or personal protective equipment that is different from their own or their mutual and automatic aid departments. Furthermore, emergency responders must have established procedures to expeditiously report suspicious activity.

Fighting Automobile Fires

According to NBC News 10 in California, fire officials are warning of a surge in accidents involving gas-filled struts in automobiles. A recent incident that seriously injured a Sacramento firefighter prompted local safety advisories for the public and "a fresh look at how fire crews handle flames or overheating in vehicle accident situations."

Gas-filled struts are hydraulic supports used to help hold up car hoods and hatchbacks. They are a common and seemingly innocuous item on many automobiles. However, a super-heated strut under the hood of a burning car can unexpectedly explode. The manner of the explosion can potentially blast the cylinder completely through the vehicle's body as a menacing projectile.

"If the struts are pointed in the wrong direction, you obviously don't want to be anywhere near them," said Sacramento Fire Captain Pat Ellis. "You want to be off to the side." Given this information and the possible threat to emergency personnel, the EMR-ISAC recommends that fire departments re-evaluate the danger posed by gas-filled struts and their procedures for approaching burning vehicles.

Potential Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds

A new multi-service manual entitled "Potential Chemical/Biological Agents and Compounds" was published in January 2005, and approved for public release with unlimited distribution. This document of 318 pages provides general information and technical data concerning chemical and biological agents and other compounds such as toxic industrial chemicals. It explains the use; classification; and physical, chemical, and physiological properties of these agents and compounds.

Considering the terrorist threat to employ chemical and/or biological weapons, the data provided in this manual can be used to support operational assessments and requirements. It can be seen and downloaded at: http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-11-9.pdf (PDF, 5.3 Mb, Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Help).