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Oil Rig Disaster
I'm far from being any where near any such disaster but would like to know how some departments would deal with this type of situation.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Crawl, Walk, Run...
Phase I: Try to deal with local resources.
Phase II: Call in mutual aid by making contact with the state Office of Emergency Services.
Phase III: Call the FEDS, which is the EPA and in this case, the Coast Guard.
Hope this helps...
CBz
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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Mix up some drinks and watch from shore. ;-)
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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By getting down to basics. ICS manages all...
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Permalink Reply by FF Nick on
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Living in the affected area (MS Gulf Coast), We haven't heard much from the superiors yet, but I will safely assume (which should never be done) that on a department level we will have no involvement unless something catches fire from the spill on land.
This type of incident is above the fire department level and using fire departments would probably result in being more in the way than doing any good. Our training deals more with firefighting and rescue more than it does an oil spill. The EMA and Civil Defense are the parties that are going to be involved. Now there are a few of us county firefighters that are HazMat responders on the county's haz team, but asserting again, we have to be activated by the CD director before we take any action. CBz pretty much summed up the way it's going to go though. FD's are still obliged to the respective response areas, it's going to be contractors hired by BP, the feds, and local volunteers (general public). I'd have to say that any FD's involvement will be very minimal at best.
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Permalink Reply by Roy Walker on
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Thanks guys as I said I've experienced and attended lectures on most of the other things we get involved with but beyond responding to a tank farm incident this was a new area.
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If you want to know more about the process and what's going on, get in touch with the local EPA On Scene Coordinator or "OSC" as they call themselves. Ask to get a tour, see what's going on, etc. You will learn more than you can imagine in just a short amount of time. And you will have a blast at the same time.
Don't forget that it's the OSC's that control the purse strings for Uncle Sam. Want to talk training, and funding, for nada? This is definitely one relationship local fire departments need to focus on. Of course if you want, you can rely on some pinhead bean counter to make the decisions as to where training funds are going to go.
And guess who's really involved already... yup, your next door LEO... The got it a long time ago. Just say the word terrorism, WMD or in this case a massive oil spill and you will see local law enforcement right there with their hands out.
All it takes is having your eyes opened, being told bluntly what to do and hopefully, you will take the initiative to see what you can do for your local areas. You all have your own OCS's, do you know who they are? Ever have a hazmat incident where you not quite sure how to handle it, already making a call to the manufacturer and business owner, waiting? This is one of those phone numbers you want to have on hand. It's not uncommon for the OSC to say, "I'll be there in less than 2-hours...". I've made lifetime friendships, so will you.
We are all on the same team. And what a resource... They are right up there with getting to know your local Civil Support Team or CST which is the regional National Guard unit that would be dispatched to a WMD event. You've just been led in the right direction Roy, and others reading this post.
Do it...
CBz
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AS ALWAYS BZ YOU HAVE OUR BACKS
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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The United States Coast Guard is responsible for hazmat spills in coastal/marine waters.
Local fire departments would not have any responsibility unless the spill is in a harbor or other location where the local department had a shorter response time than the USCG.
In the case of the Gulf rig fire and spill, the USCG was on scene prior to the rig sinking.
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