Fuel truck explosion

We see them driving up and down the highway everyday, refueling our local gas stations. Fortunately the safety record is extremely good. But when something does happen it can be a major event. Today in Montreal they were lucky... one injury.


http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2010/04/27/13740416-cp.html

Volcano Impacts - an intersting perspective

This week Rosie DiManno, a columnist with the Toronto Star published an interesting article on the Volcano in Iceland and the impacts it has had. She has some interesting comments on British Airway's decision to fly when other airlines were grounded. Risk vs Revenue...

Check out the article at
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/798364--dimanno-british-airways-took-a-risk-sending-planes-to-the-u-k

California Quake Warnings Getting Closer to Home

Authorities have warned that if Sunday's earthquake along the Mexican / US border struck in Los Angeles there would have been hundreds of fires and immeasurable losses.

Check out the New York Times article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/us/06plan.html

Canadian Air Marshals

Today's Toronto Star has an interesting article on the RCMP's Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program - better known as Air Marshals.

While the US Air Marshal program has been well known and publicized, the Canadian equivalent has been kept low key.

To read the article go to:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/789883--air-marshals-canada-s-secret-weapons-in-war-on-terror?bn=1

Durham Region Train Derailments - 6 in 6 years

There has been another train derailment in Durham Region this week. It is the 6th in 6 years along the 401 corridor from Pickering to Oshawa.

While railways are generally safe, when there is a derailment it has the potential to become a significant event. 12% of rail traffic carries dangerous goods.

Even with the number of train derailments in the area, we would ask how many organizations including schools and daycare, businesses and families have a plan to evacuate.

If you live within 1.6 km of a high speed railway you should be thinking about your evacuation plans including weekdays, evenings, nights, etc.

For the Toronto Star article go to: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/article/788421--durham-s-derailment-dilemma

Radio System Failure

How would your organization cope if your primary communications system failed?

Won't happen?

The Washington, D.C. Police, Fire and EMS (EMS operated by Fire) radio system failed for several hours this week. While officials in the US Capitol attempted to tell the media that it was basically business as usual, we know the chaos that this would cause.

Fire fighters operating at a structure fire suddenly without radio communications...

Police officers doing a traffic stop having to call for assistance by making a cell phone call... and hoping the line isn't busy.

Paramedics enroute to a hospital attempting to provide an update to ER staff.

How would your organization react? What are your back up plans? Is everyone familiar with them? How quickly could they be implemented? Do you practice using your back up systems? What resources would you need?

Here is the story in the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/29/AR2010032904028.html?referrer=emailarticle