REPORT ON EUROTOWN DISASTER
Introduction
On the 14 Oct 11 the Municipalities Emergency Preparedness Group was in meeting. At 1000 hrs it was reported that there was a major electrical failure affected the greater part of Eurotown. No initial assumptions were made but the respective service agencies were contacted. At 1200 hrs the situation deteriorated with a serious fires starting in a factory units in Bromley Hill. A Major Incident was declared at 1205 hrs and the ‘Eurotown Emergency Plan’ was activated in accordance with the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. The following actions were undertaken: * Traffic Management plan implemented. * Emergency media plan implemented (and throughout all stages of the incident). * Multi-agency action plan implemented (mutual aid response). * Communication and co-ordination with ‘Tactical Coordination Group. * Impact of power outages on critical infrastructure. * Vulnerable groups such as schools and care homes were contacted.
At 1330 hrs the fire had spread to adjacent properties which housed an LPG storage tank and 10 tonnes of chlorine. The risk of explosion and the release of a toxic plume were considered severe and priority was given to evacuating residential and business properties within 500 metres of the site around the LPG storage facility and evacuation of the personnel calculated to be effected by the plume. It was agreed that evacuation of both these groups should be co-ordinated and given equal priority taking into consideration the limited resources available to control this escalating emergency. Having identified that additional resources were required then requested via existing mutual aid agreements were sent to neighbouring authorities. The evacuation plan (including the provision of rest centres) was immediately executed. At 1400 hrs a large quantity of chemicals were released