PO Box 891993 - Temecula, CA 92589-1993 - (951) 764-3626 http://www.oursafetowns.com/ Community Safety/Security eNewsletter                April 2008

April 2008 Update    Welcome to the April 2008 Issue  From the Editor's Desk  In The News Recent and Upcoming Events What Lies Ahead Useful Information Safety Tip Welcome to the April 2008 Issue Stephen Joe has put together an awesome lineup for everyone this month.  Bill's getting ready for deployment and we wish him the best.  I've put together an interesting white paper about what I think that the structure of DHS should look like to be effective.  I'm not able to publish it just yet, but I'm thinking about throwing it on the website next month.  Drop me a line and let me know if you're interested.  Speaking of interested, I want to make sure that we've got the right mix of business and family items in our newsletter.  We're always looking for feedback to make the newsletter more useful for you.  If there's one thing that you'd like to see, drop us a line and let us know so that we can include it for you.  If you'd like to share your experience, let us know that as well.  We wnat to share what people are doing, new products that are of interest, etc.  How are you making the world safer?  What are you going to do this month to make the world safer?  Speaking of making the world safer, the Los Angeles Chapter of Infragard is looking for someone to fill the Chemical Sector chair position until I can get back.  It's a great opportunity to have access to open and closed source information, network with other sector chairs that are doing the same thing, and find out what resources are available to people in your industry.  If you are interested, please contact either myself or Richard Jones (contact info below) who is the current chair of the LA Chapter.  Thanks and have a good month! From the Editor's Desk   What's going off in the house??   I’ve gone ahead and slipped into Bill’s shoes here at the Editor’s Desk temporarily until his return….not a bad fit.  I guess that means I have to start using spell check and grammar check!   Well folks, I just got back from doing some Annual Training for the Naval Reserve and something happened at home which I’d like to share with you all.  Let me preface by saying that my wife is slightly obsessive-compulsive and hates me being gone, especially now that we have a 15 month old at home.  With that said, I get a call at 4:50 AM PST (she is in EST) and she is frantic about an alarm that just went off in the house.  Ok...I think, no worries..she is her typical paranoid self.  It could be a low battery alarm for the smoke detectors or maybe a faulty sensor in the security alarm.  Then she says it’s the Gas/CO detector!  Ok..now I started to slightly worry.  The alarm was reading a combustible gas.  The only place it could come from would be the garage.  She has the nose of a bloodhound and she told me there was no gas smell.  The only thing I could think of was that there was something wrong with the alarm/sensor.  I told her to open the garage and some windows and to unplug and re-plug the alarm into the wall socket.  Of course, she doubted my suggested course of action, seeing as I did not have any authority on the subject.  She decided to call her brother in law, who is a fireman.  His suggested course of action was the same as mine but I guess the job title of fireman, in my wife's mind, lends some credibility to his instructions.  It turned out to be fine and that the probable cause was a faulty alarm.   As I lay back down, I drew a sigh of relief.  God forbid something was leaking into the house and we didn’t have that alarm.  That is an awful situation to be in.  Make sure you and your family are safe by checking your smoke/fire alarms, replacing batteries, and installing CO and gas alarms.  A safe town starts in your own home.    Stay safe, we’ll chat again next month!   Jovanni In the News   Charlestown School to Offer Student Emergency Preparedness Program Release Date: April 18, 2008  Release Number: R1-08-053 BOSTON, Mass. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is initiating a pilot program for New England 4th grade students to teach basic emergency preparedness skills. The Student Tools for Emergency Planning (STEP) program will be offered by participating schools within the region. Warren-Prescott School in Charlestown will be among the first to provide the STEP program to its pupils. "Sharpening emergency preparedness skills is an important project for our students and staff," said Dr. Domenic Amara, principal of Warren-Prescott Elementary School. "We work very hard at this skill to ensure all of our students know what to do in case of an incident. We are pleased to participate in this training as the lessons learned in school will also help our students in their homes as they share the preparedness tips with their families." Heading up the program for the Warren-Prescott School will be Patricia Simpson, RN. “Miss Simpson is a community leader who strongly supports emergency preparedness in Charlestown,” said Amara. In addition to the key lesson plan, students in the selected schools will also receive items to make their own ‘starter’ kit; including a water bottle, snack bar, emergency whistle, Mylar blanket, and carrying bag. STEP will be taught during the 2008-2009 academic year. A joint effort between state emergency management agencies and FEMA, the program offers a ready-to-teach preparedness lesson that empowers students to encourage their families to make home emergency kits and communications plans. There are a variety of reasons a family might have to evacuate its home – a fire, a chemicals spill, winter storms, hurricanes or flooding. There may be limited time to react when an evacuation is ordered. Having an emergency kit at the ready is one thing families can do to protect themselves. A communications plan results when a family agrees on an alternate meeting place outside the home, and designates a person to call (often in a different state) if the family is separated in an emergency. Each member of the family carries a card with those important facts, as well as work and school numbers. More information on family emergency kits and communications plans may be found at:   www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/supplykit.shtm  www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/commplan.shtm Source (http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=43235)  Final CSB Report on EQ Hazardous Waste Fire and Community Evacuation in Apex Calls for New Fire Protection Standards, Improved Chemical Information for Emergency Planners Apex, North Carolina, April 16, 2008 - In a case study report released today on the October 2006 hazardous waste fire at the Environmental Quality Company (EQ), the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) called for a new national fire code for hazardous waste facilities and for improving the information provided to community emergency planners about the chemicals those facilities store and handle. The fire occurred on the night of October 5, 2006, at the EQ hazardous waste transfer facility on Investment Boulevard in Apex, a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina. The facility was not staffed or monitored after hours, and no EQ employees were present at the time of the fire. Emergency responders did not have access to specific information on the hazardous chemicals stored at the site and ordered the precautionary evacuation of thousands of Apex residents. The evacuation order remained in place for two days, until the fire had subsided. The CSB also today released a new 16-minute CSB safety video, entitled "Emergency in Apex - Hazardous Waste Fire and Community Evacuation," available on free DVDs and on the agency's video website, Safetyvideos.gov. The CSB investigation found that a small fire originated in the facility's oxidizer storage bay, one of six storage bays where different wastes were consolidated, stored, and prepared for transfer off-site to treatment and disposal facilities. Within the oxidizer bay were a number of chemical oxygen generators, which had earlier been removed from aircraft during routine maintenance at a facility in Mobile, Alabama. However, they had not been safely activated and discharged before entering the waste stream. Solid chlorine-based pool chemicals were stacked on top of the box containing still functional oxygen generators. Apex firefighters initially responded to a 911 emergency call from a resident driving past the facility, who reported observing a haze with a "strong chlorine smell." When firefighters arrived, they discovered what was still a small "sofa-size" fire. But that fire spread quickly, most likely as the aircraft oxygen generators discharged and accelerated the blaze. "The only fire control equipment on-site consisted of portable, manually operated fire extinguishers," said CSB Supervisory Investigator Rob Hall, P.E., who led the investigation. "The facility lacked fire walls and automatic fire suppression systems. As a result, the fire spread quickly into other bays where flammables, corrosives, laboratory wastes, paints, and pesticides were stored." The bays were separated by six-inch-high curbs only designed to contain liquid spills. The facility was destroyed in the ensuing fire and explosions, which sent fireballs hundreds of feet into the air. About 30 people, including one firefighter and 12 police officers, required medical evaluation at local hospitals for respiratory distress and other symptoms that occurred as a plume from the fire drifted across the area. Hazardous waste facilities like EQ's are regulated under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The investigation noted that RCRA regulations developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require facilities to have "fire control equipment" but do not specify what equipment and systems should be in place. In addition, there is no national fire code to define good fire protection practices for hazardous waste facilities. The CSB investigation identified 22 other hazardous waste fires, explosions, and releases that have occurred at U.S. hazardous waste facilities in past five years. More than a third had adverse community impacts, such as evacuations, orders to shelter, and transportation disruptions. Federal RCRA regulations require operators to "familiarize" local responders in advance concerning facility hazards, but do not describe what specific information must be shared about stored chemicals, or define the frequency of communications. Similarly, EPA regulations under the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act do not require facilities to share information about hazardous wastes with local agencies, since those wastes are generally exempt from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules requiring preparation of material safety data sheets (MSDSs). In fact, the investigation found that EQ had had limited contact with the Apex Fire Department prior to the October 2006 fire. "Specific, accurate, up-to-date information on chemical hazards is essential to emergency response planning," said CSB Board Member William Wark, who accompanied the investigative team to Apex in October 2006. "Communities have a fundamental right to know about stored hazardous chemicals that may affect their health and well-being. For first responders, having prompt access to such information is a matter of basic life safety." The CSB report recommended the EPA require that permitted hazardous waste facilities periodically provide specific, written information to state and local response officials on the type, approximate quantities, and location of hazardous materials. The Board called on the Environmental Technology Council, a trade association representing about 80% of the U.S. hazardous waste industry, to develop standardized guidance on waste handling and storage to prevent releases and fires. The CSB also recommended that the Council petition the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - an organization that authors national fire codes - to develop a specific fire protection standard for the hazardous waste industry. The new standard should address fire prevention, detection, control, and suppression. Similar NFPA standards already exist for other industries, such as wastewater treatment. Earlier, in June 2007, the CSB issued a safety advisory and urgent recommendations designed to ensure that chemical oxygen generators are safely activated and discharged prior to transportation and disposal. The advisory cited findings of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) following the 1996 ValuJet crash in Florida, which was caused when generators activated and ignited in the plane's cargo bay. The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. For more information, in Apex contact Dr. Daniel Horowitz at (202) 441-6074. In Washington, DC, contact Mr. Sandy Gilmour at (202) 261-7614 / (202) 251-5496 or Ms. Hillary Cohen at (202) 261-3601 / (202) 446-8094. Source: http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=news_releases&page=news&NEWS_ID=421    To view the video described in the above article, please visit: http://www.csb.gov/index.cfm?folder=video_archive&page=index#    Recent and Upcoming Events Recent Events April 23, 2008 - GovSec , U.S. Law and Ready Conference and Exposition put on an extensive line-up of free education and training sessions.  In addition to the first class Exposition, the event offered a free Education Pavilion on the show floor, numerous Training and Workshop sessions and free Keynote Addresses.  GovSec, The Government Security Expo and Conference, featured an exposition with a full spectrum of physical, IT and cyber security solutions, alongside wireless and mobility communications equipment for federal, state and local governments.  GovSec is co-located with U.S. Law, the U.S. Law Enforcement Conference and Exposition for federal, state and local law enforcement and Ready, The Emergency Preparedness and Response Conference and Exposition, for state and local emergency first responders and homeland response officials.  Together, GovSec , U.S. Law and Ready is a one-of-a-kind event that unites all professionals tasked with securing our homeland, from the decision-makers at the federal level to the first responders, firefighters and police officers responding to catastrophic events in their hometown and every government security professional in between.  Visit GovSec for more information on next year's conference: http://www.govsecinfo.com Upcoming Events InfraGard Los Angeles CADRE 08 Exercise Calling all our SoCal friends out there! We are looking for some volunteers to participate in InfraGard’s Los Angeles CADRE 08 Exercise!! This is an introduction to “CADRE-08”, an exercise designed by the InfraGard Los Angeles Board of Directors in coordination with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare (“CAW”). The exercise is intended for integrated participation by (a) local and federal law enforcement, (b) consequence management personnel, (c) intelligence analysts at the LA Joint Regional Intelligence Center (“JRIC”), and (d) InfraGard Sector Coordinators representing the private sector.     Regarding: CADRE-08 (Cyber Attack Detection and Response Exercise) Day/Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm Where: Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center (LA-JRIC)   12440 E. Imperial Highway  Suite 700  Norwalk, CA 90650 Purpose: See “CADRE-08 Objectives” attachment Who should attend: All Sector Coordinators plus 1 additional member (of their choice) from their sector. Board Members and Officers should also participate. Participants Representatives from: InfraGard Los Angeles – (Board Members/Officers; All Sector Coordinators;  Additional Sector Member) FBI Cyber Squad personnel U.S. Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force personnel Law Enforcement personnel assigned to JRIC JRIC Analysts and consequence management personnel General Objectives: (1) For the Private Sector, Law Enforcement, and the Joint Regional Intelligence Center (“JRIC”) to gain experience working together and thus acquire a better understanding of each other's key competencies, practices, procedures and assets.  (2) For the twelve Sector Coordinators (and their co-coordinators for the exercise) to learn more about; (a) the impacts of terrorist-based incidents on their critical infrastructure sector and, (b) incident response practices/procedures in general. This information is intended to form the base of efforts and actual program development by Sector Coordinators for their sector members over the next year. Specifically, the CADRE-08 after-action report will identify “what they know vs. what they don't know”.  Operational Objectives: (1) Incident Response Command Integration with InfraGard, JRIC and Law Enforcement personnel.   (2) The two-way transfer of Information /Intelligence between InfraGard, JRIC Analysts, and Investigators with the mission of supporting Command personnel in a real-time and an incident response atmosphere.  (3) Integrating counter-terrorism and consequence management activities/efforts between the JRIC, Law Enforcement and InfraGard Critical Infrastructure Sector Coordinators. Please RSVP to: rjones@infragardlosangeles.org  Additional details will be forwarded regularly from this point forward. Contact Rick Jones should you have any immediate questions.  Richard L. Jones  President & CEO  InfraGard Los Angeles Members Alliance, Inc.  (818) 566-8300 x21  (818) 262-1854 Cell Also, please drop us an email to let us know if you are going to be participating in this great opportunity!   Two-Day Hazardous Materials Multimodal Training Seminar   Date: June 24-25, 2008  Location: Tuscany Suites & Casino, Las Vegas, NV  You are cordially invited to attend the 2008 Multimodal Hazmat Transportation Training Seminar June 24 & 25 in Las Vegas, NV.  This training will enhance your knowledge of how hazardous materials can travel safely in transportation and the seminar is free to the public.  Everyone involved in preparing or transporting hazardous materials should attend.  Attendance at the last training seminar exceeded 500 participants.  Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.    Please note that most transportation incidents involving hazardous materials are the result of human error, and training is the best means of preventing these incidents.  Training can heighten employee safety, increase employee skills and reduce incidents and accidents.   This Multimodal Training Seminar is designed to offer many breakout sessions that fully comply with federal training requirements.  Some of the sessions include:  How to Use the HMR Federal/State Inspection Programs Legal and Regulatory Developments Training Requirements Package Selection, Marking and Labeling Requirements You will also get an opportunity to speak with federal regulators and receive updated information on current issues.  Federal officials from Washington, DC and regional areas will be on hand to address your questions concerning issues you may want to discuss, but you must be present to ask.    We look forward to your attendance and participation at the Multimodal Hazmat Transportation Training Seminar.  For registration and additional breakout information sessions offered, please refer to our website: http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/training.htm or call this office at 909) 937-7222.  The seminar is FREE to the first 450 enrollees and offers something for most hazmat employers and employees to increase your knowledge for the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials.  Each seminar begins with a general session that provides overviews of the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Materials Program and what to expect during the seminar. The remainder of the two-day seminar consists of concurrent breakout sessions. These sessions are organized and scheduled into three different tracks. You can follow a specific track or you can attend only those sessions that best meet your needs. Each session is offered twice to help you maximize your seminar experience.   We prefer each enrollee to submit the name of the agency or company, company e-mail, street address, city, state and ZIP code, as well as phone and fax number, to seminars@dot.gov.  If more than one person will attend from your organization, please include all names with the specified information outlined above. To ensure your information is correct an electronic confirmation will be provided upon receipt of registration.   For further information call: (202) 366-4900 or (909) 937-7222, and check our website for hotel information updates at http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/training.htm     Hotel site:  Tuscany Suites & Casino  255 E Flamingo Rd  Las Vegas, NV 89169  Website: www.tuscanylv.com <http://www.tuscanylv.com/>      Group Code: 11R4ZY US DOT - HAZMAT  Room rate: $65.00 until May 25th. The toll free number for room reservations is 877-887-2261, the direct line to the hotel is 702-893-8933 To view the Seminar flier, visit: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/PHMSA/DownloadableFiles/Files/MM_Seminar_08.pdf    What Lies Ahead We are continuing to do consulting work with cities and businesses and if we don't have an office in your area, we will either try to help over distance (using the internet and travel) or help you to find the right person in your area.  As our business grows, we want you to know that we are committed to ensuring that we provide the same level of expertise and service to which you are accustomed.  We work with people who are interested in making their business, community or jurisdiction safer, and not just people who want someone to help spend grant money.  We make the world safer.  It's our reson for being, our passion and if we're not doing that, then the project isn't right for us.  If we can make the world safer, there isn't a more committed passionate As always, if you are interested in working with us directly to make your community, business, or agency safer, please contact us at: info@oursafetowns.com. Remember, Keeping Our Chemical Facilities Safe has been published, and is now available!  We will provide free updates to all purchasers when we revise the book after DHS releases their guidance.  Click here to purchase your copy!   See you next month! Useful Information US Environmental Protection Agency-  Risk Management Plan (RMP) Reporting Under the authority of section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, the Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions require facilities that produce, handle, process, distribute, or store certain chemicals to develop a Risk Management Program, prepare a Risk Management Plan (RMP), and submit the RMP to EPA.  The EPA has made it easier to submit your RMP by crating an electronic filing system.  You will submit RMPs online via EPA’s secure website which manages thousands of data submissions from states and industry. You will use RMP*eSubmit, which will be available in early 2009. Online reporting simplifies the process. It saves you time, and improves data quality and security. EPA uses industry-standard technology, including encryption used by most commercial banks, as well as stringent user ID and password protocols to protect your information. You will be able to access your RMP online at anytime. In June 2009, we estimate that approximately 8,000 RMP facilities are due for the five-year update of their Risk Management Plans.  For more information please visit: http://epa.gov/emergencies/content/rmp/rmp_submit_2009.htm Safety Tip As I mentioned in my rant in the Editor’s Desk, to build a safe community, you need to start in your own home.  Here are some tips to make sure you are up to snuff on your smoke alarms! Product Safety Tips: Smoke Alarms Few of us realize how easily -- and how quickly -- fire can destroy our homes and take the lives of those we love. Fortunately, a product is available that can help protect us against fire the smoke alarm. By providing an early warning in the event of fire, smoke alarms may allow you and your family sufficient time to reach safety. Many people have neglected to install smoke alarms despite their life-saving potential and low cost. Even those who do have smoke alarms often take them for granted -- forgetting that they need some attention to continue working properly. Cut your family's risk in half - buy smoke alarms today Experts report that consumers may cut their risk of dying in a home fire in half simply by having a smoke alarm in their homes. Smoke alarms are available at nearly all hardware, department and discount stores, often for under $20. Look for the UL Mark When you purchase a smoke alarm, look for the UL Mark on the product as well as on the packaging. The UL Mark tells you that a representative sample of the smoke alarm has been evaluated by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) to nationally recognized safety requirements. It also means that UL conducts follow-up evaluations to countercheck that samples of the smoke alarm continue to meet these safety requirements. Photoelectric and Ionization type alarms There are two types of smoke alarms available today: photoelectric and ionization. When smoke enters a photoelectric alarm, light from a pulsating light source in reflected off the smoke particles onto a light sensor, triggering the alarm. When smoke enters an ionization alarm, ionized air molecules attach to the smoke particles and reduce the ionizing current, triggering the alarm. While photoelectric smoke alarms generally respond faster to smoldering smoke conditions and ionization smoke alarms generally respond faster to flaming fire conditions, both types provide adequate protection against fire. Combination smoke alarms featuring both photoelectric and ionization technology are also available at hardware, department and home improvement stores. There's safety in numbers Install at least one smoke alarm on each floor of the house or residence and outside all sleeping areas. Some fire safety advocates recommend installing smoke alarms inside each sleeping area if sleeping with the door closed. Test, clean and maintain your smoke alarms Working smoke alarms are needed in every home and residence. Test and maintain your smoke alarms at least once a month, or follow the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke alarms most often fail because of missing, dead or disconnected batteries. Replace batteries at least once a year. Practice a fire escape plan In addition to installing smoke alarms in your home, the safety experts at UL also recommend that you develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with all members of your household. In the event of a fire, every family member should know at least two ways out of each room. Stay as close to the floor as possible during your escape. Hot air and smoke rise, so the air nearest the floor may be safer to breathe. If you encounter a closed door during your escape, feel the door before opening it. If it's hot to the touch, use another exit. The heat could indicate fire on the other side of the door. Teach your children how to escape in case of a fire -- not to hide under a bed or in a closet. Some individuals, particularly children, older people and those with special needs, may not wake up to the sound of a smoke alarm. You should be aware of this when developing your home fire escape plan. Designate a well-lit place, a safe distance away from your home, where everyone will meet in the event of a fire. This will help firefighters determine if anyone else is still inside the home. And remember; never return to a burning building for any reason. Review of smoke alarm installation, safety and maintenance Read and follow the manufacturer's installation and maintenance instructions exactly. Install fresh batteries in your smoke alarms at least once a year. Don't allow anyone to disconnect or "borrow" the batteries from your smoke alarms. A smoke alarm can't work unless it's connected to a power source. If a smoke alarm's warning alarm sounds, don't panic. Stay close to the floor and get out of the building. Before opening any doors, check the temperature. If the door feels hot to the touch, don't open it. Use an alternate exit.   E-mail Jovanni E-mail Stephen E-mail Bill