GIS Emergency Handbook for DeWitt County Chemical Facilities
The GIS Emergency Handbook project addresses the risks posed by storing Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) in DeWitt County by providing vital information to first responders in an easily accessible format. The handbook includes details on chemicals, contacts, and facility information to aid in emergency response situations. The aim is to enhance preparedness and mitigate potential risks to the community and environment.
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DEWITT COUNTY HANDBOOK Final presentation Robert Gannon (Manager) Matt Ahrens (Assistant Manager) George Caracostis (GIS Analyst)
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM Due to increased drilling and the Eagle Ford Shale phenomena, there has been high concerns for the risk of chemical fires putting the community and the environment at risk. 1. The problem lies in the storage of Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHS) at facilities and the transport of these chemicals on the roads, to and from the facilities. EHS chemicals are defined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as any substances that has toxicity and potential, in an event of a spill, to become airborne (EPCRA Guide, 2015). Each facility storing EHS chemicals is required by the EPA to file a Tier II report, listing an index of EHS chemicals with amounts stored at the facility.
PROBLEM CONTINUED Second, DeWitt County is largely a rural county, making cell phone coverage and internet access very limited. 2. Third, there are only 7 volunteer fire departments in DeWitt County meaning these departments will be the first responders in the event of a chemical emergency. 3.
SOLUTION In January 2015, our team South Texas Emergency Consulting was contacted to solve these problems. Our team used GIS technology to implement spatial data into a handbook showing pertinent facility information, chemicals, contacts and other necessary data normally needed in an emergency call, that was independent of the internet.
PURPOSE & SCOPE The purpose of the project was to build an emergency handbook using GIS technology. Independent of the internet. For emergency responders in the oil and gas industries. The information will be distributed via paper copy of handbook to all emergency responders. To be used in an event of an emergency. The project (i.e. analysis) was done on all EHS chemical facilities within DeWitt County.
DATA Data used for the project for the project was obtained primarily from Rosie Ybarra, Emergency Management Coordinator of DeWitt County. Information about chemicals and chemical facilities was retrieved from the DeWitt County Tier II data files. It included: 1. Chemical Inventory list for all facilities including means of storage, physical properties, EHS categorization, and facility reference codes for each chemical. Facility contact information including E-mail, phone numbers of on and offsite managing personnel, and corresponding contact reference codes. Site plan maps to assist in locating gate access information.
DATA CONTINUED Texas State Data Center website provided: Shapefiles for DeWitt and adjacent counties including city boundaries, rivers and lakes United States Census Bureau provided road shapefiles United States Geological Survey: Quad index reference grid USGS aerial orthophotographic imagery was downloaded from the Texas National Resources Information System website for facility gate access location, and final guide book map display.
SOFTWARE Microsoft Excel: Used initially to edit, organize, and complete Tier II data. 1. Cameo Chemicals: chemical information database used to research chemical properties and hazards. 2. Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres (ALOHA): Used to calculate chemical/quantity specific threat zone distances for each EHS facility. 3. ArcMap 10.2: Used for map production, table joins, simple overlay, and final map output. 4.
METHODOLOGY STEP 1: DATA MANAGEMENT The Tier II dataset we received from the client included Excel spreadsheets of three varieties all linked through record identification codes: Facilities Tier II Chemical Inventory Data Chemical Inventories Organize & Complete Data Facility Contacts Chemical Inventory Contacts Facilities Data was edited for simplicity and consistency Phone Email Addition of necessary fields and values Link Tables Joined Contacts Deletion of fields unrelated to project Reclassification of field values Preparation for table joins
STEP 2: DEFINITION Our Criteria for EHS Classification Chemical Inventory Define EHS Criteria Inclusion of Hydrocarbons to current EHS list Contain trace amounts of EHS chemicals: Benzene Hydrogen Sulfide Weight in Pounds Value From To 01 0 99 Large quantities pose great threats but 02 100 499 03 500 999 are not classified as EHS 04 1,000 4,999 Threshold Planning Criteria (Threat Zones) 05 5,000 9,999 Reportable Quantity: 06 10,000 24,999 07 25,999 49,999 Max Amount Code > 08 08 50,000 79,999 09 75,000 99,999 10 100,000 499,999 11 500,000 999,999 12 1,000,000 10,000,000 13 Greater Than 10,000,000
STEP 3: CALCULATION ALOHA Software Calculate Chemical Release Zones Chemical quantity/property input EHS List 3 Threat zone distances calculated Protective Action Criteria (PAC) Zones Assumptions Fixed atmospheric conditions Immediate release source
STEP 4: VISUALIZATION Facilities Create Facility Base Map EHS List EHS Facilities & Threat Zones All facilities in DeWitt County added to map EHS facility layer created from joining EHS List Add USGS index grid for quadrant reference
STEP 4: VISUALIZATION Threat zone distances from ALOHA calculations input as buffers: Protective Action Criteria (PAC) Zone 3: Initial Blast Area Zone 2: Shelter in Place/Evacuation Zone 1: Notify & Monitor Located facility gate access points
STEP 5: FINAL OUTPUT Merged Contacts EHS Facilities & Threat Zones Data Driven Output Contact information joined to Facilities Utilized data driven pages for creation of 307 individual EHS facility maps List of all facilities within each map extent
RESULTS & DISCUSSION Project allowed us to provide 307 detailed maps showing, facility information, gate access and contact numbers for first responders. This will allow responders to set up road blocks and be able to warn surrounding residential homes and business of potential hazards in an event of an emergency. Obstacles: One of the obstacles our team faced was having to learn a new program suite. Cameofm, Aloha, Marplot, Cameo Chemicals. These are GIS tools known in the chemical industry but unfamiliar to our group. Although guidebook is a hardcopy map series, facility & threat zone shapefiles with import instructions will be given to the client for further use in Marplot.
CONCLUSION Our team was able to successfully create an Emergency Handbook, independent of the internet, with all necessary information for Responders. This handbook will serve as a visual and textual guide to for our client and responders who will use it. It has been an honor to be able to do this project knowing that it will be helpful to the responders and people of DeWitt County.
