Threats and Hazards Linked to Graniteville, South Carolina Train Wreck and Chlorine Spill

Important Note: The scenario we will be using for the class project involves building a list of threats and hazards of concern associated with the train derailment/chemical explosion that occurred in Graniteville, SC on January 6, 2005.  The incident occurred some time ago and much research was compiled that assessed the causes and effects of the incident.  In this sense, performing a risk assessment for an event that occurred is very instructive, demonstrating the overall risk assessment process by “working through” the scenario after the fact.Description of 3-Step THIRA Process: 
Types of Threats and Hazards:• Natural hazards: naturally occurring events (hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, drought, tornados, volcanic eruptions, significant weather incidents, etc.)• Technological hazards: accidents or the failures of systems and structures (building collapse, power failures, pipeline explosions, train derailments, chemical explosions, aircraft crashes, dam breaches, etc.)• Human-caused incidents: intentional acts of adversaries (terrorist attacks, acts of war, criminal activity, etc.)
Sources of risks and hazards of concern:• NTSB Report on Graniteville, SC train derailment/chlorine release• Graniteville Health Report, November – December 2007, Public Health Reports Volume 122, pages 784-792• Aiken County, SC HMP, 2011• Aiken County Sherriff’s Office After-Action Report, Graniteville Train Wreck, January 2005• Modeling Dispersion from Toxic Gas Released after a Train Collision in Graniteville, SC • State of South Carolina Response to Train Derailment in Graniteville: Lessons LearnedNote:  The above is a partial list of sources that can be accessed and used to identify risks and hazards of concern for the class project.  Make sure to identify at least 20 risks and hazards of concern based on a review of the source materials provided.  Each risk and hazard of concern needs to be based on challenges communities may face in meeting the 32 Core Capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal . 
 
Descriptions of each THIRA Step:• Step 1: Identify risks and hazards of concern:o Identify Risk Items:  Use a single word or phrase to identify the risk item; there are numerous risk items in the scenario we are using so make sure to cover at least 20 in your assessment.  Use the informational resources provided to identify your risks.o Define your risks and hazards of concern:  Define the risk item, based on review of the scenario and research you conduct; make sure to define secondary, tertiary, associated and cascading risks within the scenario.o Provide significance for each risk and hazard of concern:  Use this box to describe the magnitude of the risk item occurring based on a review of the scenario; make sure to use the 32 core capabilities to determine the significance of each risk and hazard of concern • Step 2: Provide context: o Provide context descriptions using quantified or numerical information:  Use this box to further refine risks and hazards of concern recorded in Step 1; context descriptions are based on your review of the scenario, in both quantitative (time, location, magnitude, and associated discrete measures) and qualitative (historical observations, prior experience, and expert opinion) terms
• Step 3: Establish capability targets: Describe the level of capability the community should build towards; communities create capability targets, based on the 32 core capabilities and the use of standardized target language found in the FEMA Core Capability Development sheets found at: /core- capability-development-sheets.  o Capability target statements need to include the following:  Impacts, timeframe metrics, and critical tasks 
Step 1 – Identify Risks & Hazards Step 2 – Provide Context Step 3 – Establish Capability Targets
List risk  items Definition Priority: Explain Likelihood & Significance Context descriptions (include numbers where possible) Capability target statement (includes timeframe metrics, impact, & critical tasks)
Risk1 - Injuries to population (example) Train derailment can cause serious injuries to people in the general area of the incident. This is a high likelihood risk and a high significance based on potential impacts. 554 people seek treatment for injuries[based on the Graniteville scenario] • Triage, treat and transport 75 critically injured patients to an appropriate medical facility within 1 hour of incident occurrence. • Triage, treat and transport 150 seriously injured patients to an appropriate medical facility within 1 1/2 hours of incident occurrence.• Triage, treat and transport 329 patients with minor injuries to an appropriate medical facility within 3 hours of incident occurrence.Risk2 – Fires from diesel fuel spill (example) Diesel fuel spilled from derailed train cars presents a fire hazard. This is a low likelihood risk. However, it is high significance based on potential impacts. A train locomotive carries 10,000 – 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Many trains have multiple locomotives. This amount of fuel is a fire hazard. However, the chance of all the fuel spilling is low. • Create fuel pools by damming all fuel spilled within 20 minutes of fire units arriving on scene. • Apply a blanket of foam to all fuel pools within 30 minutes of arrival.Risk3 - Water pollution from diesel fuel spill (example) Diesel fuel spilled from derailed train cars can contaminate surface water This is a low likelihood risk. However, it is medium significance based on potential impacts. A train locomotive carries 10,000 – 15,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Many trains have multiple locomotives. This amount of fuel can present a hazard to nearby surface water. However, the chance of all the fuel spilling is low. • Divert fuel away from surface water within 20 minutes of fire units arriving on scene. • Deploy 100 feet of oil pollution containment boom within 1 hour of arrival.
Risk4 – Water pollution Chlorine clouds reaching local streams and rivers This is a medium likelihood risk with medium significance based on potential impacts. The liquefied chlorine from the spill quickly vaporized to form plumes. Depending on wind conditions such as wind speed and direction, clouds of chlorine can reach water sources. • Accelerate dilution of hazardous vapor clouds using vortex generator within 1 hour&...