Chapter 16 Weapons of Mass Destruction, Hurricanes and Natural Disasters

Weapons of Mass Destruction Potential risks include the following: Terrorist airplane flight into a chemical plant or refinery Terrorist entry into CPI workforce Use of a conventional bomb Use of a nuclear bomb Suicide bomber

Terrorists would need to know the following about a chemical processing facility: Location Quantity of materials Physical and chemical hazards Direction of the wind Safety instrumentation Potential for catastrophic effects Domino effect with other industries Economic effect on community

There are many programs that provide an avenue into the CPI: Community colleges that offer certificates and degrees to enter the workplace Engineering programs Chemistry at the bachelor, master’s, and Ph.D. levels Other areas of specialized training are offered in instrumentation, electrical, safety, and construction management

When a bomb threat is received by a chemical plant or refinery a number of steps are followed: If a threat is considered real a bomb threat alarm is sounded. Authorities are notified. Cell phones should not be used. A quick visual check of the area is made. The operating unit is placed in a safe condition. Return occurs after the all clear is sounded

One megaton nuclear bomb is capable of destroying the largest city in the world 35% of its energy is released as heat, 50% in the initial blast, and 15% as nuclear radiation A nuclear bomb would kill or seriously injury everyone within 3 to 30 miles. Typical temperatures in a nuclear explosion exceed 300,000°C.

Suicide Bomber – Dirty Bomb Typically made from 100 pounds of conventional explosives, bundled with cobalt-60 The blast zone would have a 300ft. radius The radioactive material would be scattered beyond the blast zone by the wind.

Use of Chemical Weapons Chemical weapons are identified by how they affect the body and whether they are nerve toxins, chemical asphyxiants, respiratory irritants, skin irritants, or burning agents. A plant’s own chemicals could be used against them such as chlorine, anhydrous ammonia, and LPG to name a few.

Chemical Asphyxiants Chemical asphyxiants are formulated to displace oxygen and interfere by not allowing the victim to utilize oxygen after it enters the respiratory system. Common examples are hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen compounds.

Use of Biological Weapons Biological agents are made from biological toxins and micro-organisms. Biological toxins can be classified as chemical compounds produced by poisonous microbes, animals, or plants. Microorganisms are living bacteria and viruses that have the ability to establish hazardous infections in humans that are easily spread.

Pneumonic and bubonic plague: Anthrax spores have the ability to lie dormant for 40 years before being inhaled or ingested. Pneumonic and bubonic plague: The first plague killed 55% of the population of North Africa, Europe, and Central and Southern Asia The second killed 33% of the population of European nations and 13 million in China

Viruses Viruses are smaller than bacteria, live inside cells, utilize the host for reproduction and metabolism, are costly to produce, and are extremely difficult to cure. Military research has been conducted on the following: smallpox, Venezuelan equine encephalitis, Viral hemorrhagic fever.

Biological Toxins These types of toxins are more toxic than toxins produced in industry. Examples of biological toxins include: Botulism Ricin SEB (staphylococcal enterotoxin B) T2 (tricholthecene mycotoxins)

Tornado Hits Extremely violent, turbulent, rotating columns of air that maintain contact with the cumulonimbus cloud and the surface of the earth. Tornados produce wind speeds between 40 and 110 mph. Some have achieved wind speeds of over 300 mph. The CPI is not capable of handling a direct hit by an F3 or F6 twister. Only automatic shutdowns and quick thinking will prevent a catastrophic situation. The CPI utilizes the Fujita scale to classify tornados.

Fast-Forming Hurricanes Hurricanes are powerful, swirling storms with tentacles reaching out from a singular eye. Hurricanes have sustained wind speeds between 74 - 155 mph. Hurricanes form 10 – 15 degrees north or south of the equator and move in a curved path toward the north or south pole.

The surface of the surface water must be above 80°F for a hurricane to develop. As the seawater evaporates, it adds moisture to the hurricane. A hurricane can pick up as much as 2 billion tons of water a day. The energy produced by an average hurricane over a two day period could supply the energy needs of the U.S. for a year.

Hurricanes are graded by three factors: wind speed, eye pressure, and height. The CPI uses the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale. This scale uses wind speed as its primary factor. After hurricane Katrina, a large percentage of the CPI decided to keep a skeleton on shift and shutdown the operating units until it was safe to restart. Typically, category 3-5 hurricanes will initiate a unit shutdown.

Use of Military Weapons In reviewing the number of scenarios available for hazard preparation, it has been determined that it would be difficult to prevent the use of a military weapon or weapons on facilities operated by the CPI. Weapons can be grouped into four areas: Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Army weapons.

Flooding When flood waters encroach on a plant’s sewer systems and waste treatment facilities, every hazardous chemical is picked up and carried away into the community. Local rivers, streams, and drainage facilities may carry this material into close contact with the public or out to sea.

Emergency Preparedness Emergency preparedness requires that each family have a 72-hour emergency kit, evacuation plans, contact names, and meeting places for family members in case of separation.