Over the weekend, three Norfolk Southern trains crashed and derailed in Lower Saucon Township. At least one locomotive and empty propane tanks spilled into the Lehigh River, along with about 50 gallons of diesel fuel and plastic pellets. This accident demonstrates quite clearly why the Lehigh Valley has a Hazard Mitigation Plan and why it is updated every five years. A large part of the reason why first responders were on the scene so quickly is because of that plan.
Last week, I wrote about both the natural and manmade hazards considered. The chief concern about this derailment was the release of environmental hazards or an explosion. Fortunately, nothing like that happened. ... This time.
According to the draft mitigation plan, "Many hazardous materials incidents occur during transportation. The Lehigh Valley contains a network of roadways linking large population centers within the region, and freight carries frequently utilize this network. Some of the freight transported to and through the Lehigh Valley is considered hazardous, and the presence of hazardous materials on the roads and railways inevitably creates the potential for these materials to be involved in transportation accidents." The sole exception is I-476, from Route 22 north to Route 209 in Carbon County, where most hazardous materials are banned.
Since 1971, there have been 2,321 "transportation incidents" involving hazardous materials. Most of them occur on our highways. Only 15% involve rail transportation.
Possible health risks from environment hazards include thermal harm caused by extreme temperatures; radiological harm; asphyxiation; chemical injuries and exposure to biological toxins. Usually, the locations closest to the accident are at greatest risk. That can changes depending on the weather, proximity and first responders and their training.
After the East Palestine train derailment leading to the release of vinyl chloride, Executive Lamont McClure directed emergency management to conduct three training sessions to deal with the release of hazardous material. It appears that they had this incident contained pretty quiikly, which is a credit to EMS and McClure's leadership.
17 comments:
“It appears that they had this incident contained pretty quiikly, which is a credit to EMS and McClure's leadership.”
Train derailments in NorCo are up 100% under McClure.
All the tank cars were empty and none went in the river,only the locomotives. Local fire/EMS had a good response because it was a Saturday morning. Being volunteer had this incident happened on a weekday morning the response would have ben much less. And how lives are out in jeopardy every day because of the fools who operate the NORCO 911 center. The only really hot air at the derailment site was McClure himself.
The RR had a contractor with very heavy vehicles that brought skilled personnel apparently from Virginia. About a dozen vehicles were staged at the access to our shooting range along Reddington Road and the rails . It’s absolutely remarkable to me having had to move troops in various modes in vehicles in the dark, how fast they responded here from any discernible distance. I’d never believed it. A locomotive weight runs around 420;000 lbs and only one aircraft in the world can lift one for transport . And it’s below grade !—- just an incredible response.
The lion’s share of the credit is due to the Lower Saucon Fire and Police Departments in terms of the local response. The Nancy Run Fire Company and the BTVFC also performed admirably. As always, we appreciate our partnership with the Lehigh County Hazmat Team. ~ LGM
6:04 AM.
That’s their job and responsibilities to the communities I which they work. Perhaps if they would have been more disciplined and diligent the train derailment would not have happened. Remember, all accidents can be prevented.
The problem with the plan is the lack of commitment to the plan. Elected officials cite plans like the LVHMP as being prepared. There is never any follow up to these voluminous plans. The plans are usually shelved never to actually be implemented. There must be real resources committed to the plan so actual mitigation can take place. Yes preparing means spending time and money. The train derailment should be a wake-up call. Northampton County was LUCKY!!! The impact to people, property and the environment were minimal. Would NC have been ready if the incident would have involved multiple breaches of dangerous chemicals? Public safety is the most important aspect of local government, but it rarely gets the attention from local officials. I don’t mean just praising our first responders, I mean making a real commitment to the work they do by providing the resources needed to keep them safe and enable them to do their jobs effectively. As a former first responder that is how I wanted to be recognized and shown appreciation. Next year I would like to see an audit of how much time and money have been spent to date on each of the hazard categories listed in the LVHMP. That will show what real commitment we have.
Mike, I respect and thank you for your observations. As a former first responder, you once saved my grandson's life.
"s a former first responder that is how I wanted to be recognized and shown appreciation. Next year I would like to see an audit of how much time and money have been spent to date on each of the hazard categories listed in the LVHMP. That will show what real commitment we have."
Excellent suggestion.
Thanks Bernie. Just one more thing. Not to denigrate the work put into the LVHMP, but 400+ pages plus annexes. Advise to the team members as well as others trying to increase awareness. Longer is not better. I am an interested party and I blew through it in about 5 minutes trying just to catch the important points. If I am not going to read it beginning to end who is? Do a follow up. No more than 3 or 4 pages. A one paragraph overview of each hazard class. Followed by 5 to 10 tasks that need to be accomplished. Much more effective a lot less work. The time saved could be spent on actual mitigation.
The only disaster mitigation that we need is against politicians like Sultana.
The plan is lengthy to meet FEMA requirements. if you were not aware FEMA dictates all aspects of the plan from chapters, categories anll the way down to the layout of the document including if it is portrait or landscape format.
Locally you updated the hazard history (events) that may have occurred during the 5 years between plan updates. Any additional areas or items is added locally and that’s a positive! Too many do the bare minimum and get the stamp APPROVED on it.
In regards to putting it onto a shelf for years to come you most certainly would
be disappointed to know how little the municipalities even participate during the process let alone performing any actions within the actions list (at least in my area), I’d imagine it holds true for all.
A Mitigation plan shall be opened and reviewed AFTER an incident. Mitigation is to prevent or lessen an impact. It is not a response plan as I think you are confusing this plan for. A Mitigation plan would help document mitigation actions that could help mitigate the loss during future events (human-made or natural).
As a former Chief you know it’s almost impossible to be prepared for EVERYTHING. No tax payer would want to foot the bills the be prepared. And who determines a jurisdiction is prepared enough?
Anyhow heard you are having amazing weather up there in southern New York!
Please read this to understand why the Plan (or why any FEMA approved plan) is written how it is! It’s mandated… your ideas are good but FEMA requires specific items and layout.. https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation-assistance-guidance
Contractor such as crane company and hazardous material mitigation team have no way of preventing a train derailment.. lololol too early for this nonsense..
Don’t get your underpants all twisted up. I am supporting your efforts. The point of a plan should not be just to meet the requirements of State and Federal bureaucracies. It should foremost be a blueprint to ensure public safety To do that it must be a document that can be easily read and understood by citizens and politicians that are not first responders. Mitigation, a word most people do not relate to disasters. Yes mitigation is completing tasks before a disaster that lessen the impact. For instance reducing storm water runoff will lessen the impact of flooding. On the other hand a response at the time of a disaster also mitigates the impact. If a fire department puts out a fire before it becomes a conflagration that is also mitigation. You cannot separate the two. They go hand in hand. Your plan needs to be followed by a short synopsis with clear benchmarks, not just a novel to appease the state and federal government.
One last point, is with the vibe you just gave me with you comment, no wonder no one from the municipal level wanted to participate
My name is Mike Krill, what’s yours?
The railroad has a small group of favored contractors that they call for various projects including derailments. When not is use the heavy equipment is kept loaded on flatbeds ready to go and when called will usually hit the road in an hour or so. Actually, the cleanup might have started earlier but they had to wait for the NTSB to finish their on-site investigation.
Annon 3:39 best comment of the day! The only leaking gas we worry about is from McClure. He is now weighing in on the pay of the president of the railroad. A big county issue. The guy may be O'Hare's boy and O'Hare does cover for him if the posts are too true, but the guy is a shameless self-promoter. How about staffing the nursing home and then fix the nation's railroads. Ther republicans have Trump, and we have McClure.
“My name is Mike Krill,what’s yours” — Mike Krill was there years ago dealing with NorCo Safety issues if you may recall. He and Chief Price I believe brought stuff to their attention about. how The Strausser owned 911 center was venerable. I recall and submit these two brought up the fact that the communication trunking was located in an access along the South end by rt .248 and the pit below grade was unsecured. That the fact that the location of the building was indeed along a high speed avenue of approach and presented a risk of loss by simple fuel truck that could intentionally be driven into the side of that building. How many years ago was that? Now both men - Krill and Price are now Sr.Citizens and are still at it. You can’t take advice from political appointees that have zero experience in this type of critical thinking process,things can’t work well that way. We can’t know this stuff as citizens usually, and today with - I say, probable acts of terrorizing this god forsaken country we love IS - highly probable due to geopolitics were involved with now in the Middle East ,and our own complacency. We all got it coming!
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