“It’s a beautiful day in the neighbourhood
For transportation of dangerous goods…”
Eh, I can’t think of any more lyrics, and it was a dopey song anyway. So onwards to today’s topic. And that is: Just what is in your neighbourhood?
Here in Manitoba, we tend to think we live in an almost rural fashion, despite the fact that most of our population is concentrated in a few large centers and a plethora of smaller ones. Our towns tend to cluster around major highways and are dotted along rail lines for the most part. Along those rail lines and roads run trains and trucks filled with deadly goodies like acid, anhydrous ammonia, and propane. Often, these cargos pass through heavily populated areas, often right through the middle of town. Derailments and accidents are not common, but do happen.
Then there is the question of industry. Even the smaller towns have some sort of large business providing employment and keeping the town alive. In most cases, these are pretty much innocuous, but there are exceptions. The bulk fuel dealer, the fertilizer depot with an anhydrous ammonia storage tank or large amounts of nitrate fertilizer on site, perhaps an industry where the product is not inherently dangerous, but the components are (There are an infinite variety of things that give off toxic fumes when burned or even better, go boom).
Then too there are the infrastructure items that pose a hazard, such as natural gas pipelines. One blew up in the western part of Manitoba a number of years ago. Luckily, it was some distance from the nearest town, but I’m told that the explosion and subsequent fire were heard and seen at a distance of many miles and it was sheer luck no one was killed.
Everyday, we walk, drive by, or live close to potentially dangerous goods. Our tendency is to dismiss these, because most of the time they are not a danger to us, although there are a variety of situations that can change them from potential to actual hazard.
The immediate concern in day-to-day life is an accident, of course. Trucks crash, trains derail, and fires or other events happen despite everyone’s best effort to minimize the risks. The root cause in these sorts of incidents can range from human neglect or equipment failure, to the occasional act of god in the form of tornados or earthquakes.
Additionally, one should look at the longer term. In an economic or larger societal collapse, simple abandonment or deliberate vandalism can transform a usually safe resource into a deadly hazard. The serious prepper should take this into consideration, and as always, knowing what you might face is the first step.
For transportation of dangerous goods…”
Eh, I can’t think of any more lyrics, and it was a dopey song anyway. So onwards to today’s topic. And that is: Just what is in your neighbourhood?
Here in Manitoba, we tend to think we live in an almost rural fashion, despite the fact that most of our population is concentrated in a few large centers and a plethora of smaller ones. Our towns tend to cluster around major highways and are dotted along rail lines for the most part. Along those rail lines and roads run trains and trucks filled with deadly goodies like acid, anhydrous ammonia, and propane. Often, these cargos pass through heavily populated areas, often right through the middle of town. Derailments and accidents are not common, but do happen.
Then there is the question of industry. Even the smaller towns have some sort of large business providing employment and keeping the town alive. In most cases, these are pretty much innocuous, but there are exceptions. The bulk fuel dealer, the fertilizer depot with an anhydrous ammonia storage tank or large amounts of nitrate fertilizer on site, perhaps an industry where the product is not inherently dangerous, but the components are (There are an infinite variety of things that give off toxic fumes when burned or even better, go boom).
Then too there are the infrastructure items that pose a hazard, such as natural gas pipelines. One blew up in the western part of Manitoba a number of years ago. Luckily, it was some distance from the nearest town, but I’m told that the explosion and subsequent fire were heard and seen at a distance of many miles and it was sheer luck no one was killed.
Everyday, we walk, drive by, or live close to potentially dangerous goods. Our tendency is to dismiss these, because most of the time they are not a danger to us, although there are a variety of situations that can change them from potential to actual hazard.
The immediate concern in day-to-day life is an accident, of course. Trucks crash, trains derail, and fires or other events happen despite everyone’s best effort to minimize the risks. The root cause in these sorts of incidents can range from human neglect or equipment failure, to the occasional act of god in the form of tornados or earthquakes.
Additionally, one should look at the longer term. In an economic or larger societal collapse, simple abandonment or deliberate vandalism can transform a usually safe resource into a deadly hazard. The serious prepper should take this into consideration, and as always, knowing what you might face is the first step.
The thing to do is find out what exactly is located in or moving through your area that can affect you. There may be none, one or multiple things to worry about in your immediate vicinity. A quick drive around town, a look through the phone book, and an open eye on what goes through town by road and rail are a good start. Your local emergency measures organization may be a source for this information, and most fire departments have a good grip on hazardous materials in their area of response, so ask around.
Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can take steps to minimize the risk. You might need to devise an evacuation plan, purchase a respirator, take steps to safeguard your water supply from leaked chemicals, or a dozen other things. Your exact plan will depend on the particular risks in your area, if any.
Remember, this is nothing more than situational awareness written large, and doesn't need to be hard to do or complicated. The important thing is to find out what the threats are in your neighbourhood now, so you can prepare and plan for if or when.
Originally posted April 28, 2010 @MPN
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