Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc.
Emergency Preparedness
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR AN AMMONIA RELEASE
Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. (ANPI), is committed to being a good and responsible neighbor. As a manufacturer of agricultural fertilizers and mining industry chemicals, Apache imports a number of chemicals to its plant by rail and truck. One such chemical is anhydrous ammonia, which is converted into ammonium nitrate.
The possibility exists that ammonia could be released as the result of a railcar or truck accident, or an accident at the plant. Because such possibilities do exist, ANPI has developed an Emergency Response Plan and practiced implementation of the Plan with local responders. An integral part of ANPI’s Emergency Response Plan is communicating with our neighbors. Therefore, this information pamphlet discusses:
· Basic health hazards associated with ammonia;
· Explains how you will be notified in the event of an off-plant ammonia release;
· Details Shelter-in-Place protection procedures;
· Fundamental first aid and decontamination measures; and,
· Provides general information on evacuation.
In its gaseous form (called anhydrous ammonia), ammonia is colorless and has a pungent, choking odor. Some people are able to detect or smell ammonia in the air in concentrations of less than 1 part ammonia per million parts of air (ppm). Others are not able to detect ammonia until the ammonia concentration reaches 55 ppm. The average person can usually detect ammonia at concentrations around 20 ppm. Depending on individual sensitivities, moderate irritation to the nose and throat can occur when ammonia concentration are between 9 ppm and 50 ppm. At approximately 140 ppm, a person could experience slight irritation to the eyes.
Short-term exposure to even very irritating levels is rarely a significant health hazard.
In the event that an ammonia release occurs which could potentially reach your residence at a concentration that could affect your health, you will be notified in on e or more of the following ways:
· ANPI’s community-warning siren;
· Community Alert Network (CAN) telephone system;
· Local radio station broadcasts; and/or,
· Public address system announcements from an emergency vehicle.
Residents within hearing distance of Apache’s community-warning siren may be alerted by several different types of sirens.
The emergency siren has a traditional siren sound where the pitch rises to a high level and then starts back down again in three minute cycles. This will continue as long as there is an emergency.
The emergency siren is tested every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Please listen to the siren and become familiar with the tone.
Should the siren be activated during a real emergency,
the “All Clear” signal will notify residents that the emergency is over.
This siren sound rises to a high pitch and remains steady for three minutes
without cycling.
There is also an air horn on the facility’s Powerhouse. This is different from the siren as it is a steady sound and does not cycle. The air horn is used to signal daily work shifts and breaks.
The CAN telephone system may also be used to notify you of an emergency. ANPI has subscribed to this telephone service which, when activated, automatically dials pre-designated telephone numbers and plays a message. The messages which may currently be activated by ANPI on the CAN system include, Test Message, Begin Shelter-in-Place, and Prepare to Evacuate.
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Department only may activate the Advise to Evacuate and All Clear messages on the CAN system.
The local radio stations may also provide emergency information. The local channels are 97.7 FM, 101.7 FM and 1430 AM. The actual announcement will vary according to the conditions and circumstances of the emergency.
The Sheriff’s Department or the Local Emergency Planning Committee may also notify you of an emergency. Public officials may use a public address system or other means of communication. It is important to follow the instructions provided to you.
If you are notified of an ammonia release, STAY CALM and DO NOT PANIC. There are various methods, which may be employed to keep you and your family safe.
Shelter-in-Place has been proven effective when there is insufficient time to evacuate. The Shelter-in-Place steps are:
· Go inside you home or the home closest to you.
· Take you household pets inside with you, but only if it can be done quickly.
· Begin Shelter-in-Place procedures by closing all windows, doors, vents and fireplace flews.
· Turn off all heating and cooling ventilation systems.
· Turn off all devices that circulate air into and through the house, such as window and attic fans, and swamp coolers.
· Move everyone into an interior room, such as a bath, take a phone with you.
· Turn on radio.
· Do not use phone unless it is an emergency.
· Cover windows, doors, and ducts with pre-cut plastic sheets and duct tape. (Plastic trash bags, aluminum foil, duct tape, wet towels or wet rags may be used.)
· Turn on warm water. Water vapor in the air can help remove ammonia vapor and increases the temperature and pressure of the room which will help prevent vapors from entering the room.
· Stay inside and wait for further instruction by radio, telephone, or until LEPC officials say you can safely leave.
After the emergency is over, you may be instructed to open your windows and doors to ventilate the building, and go outside.
You may be asked to prepare to evacuate. During this time ANPI and the Sheriff’s Department (LEPC) will take action to alleviate the hazard. If you are at home, and you have time, you should gather items you might need while you’re away. Useful items might include: clothes, medicines, baby supplies, portable radio, flashlight, checkbook, cash and credit cards, and identification such as a driver’s license. Do not leave your home until you are instructed to do so by LEPC officials.
If an area is at risk and an orderly evacuation is the safest option, an evacuation will be ordered by the Sheriff’s Department (LEPC). Listen carefully to the radio to Make sure that this order applies to you area. If an evacuation is ordered:
· Turn on your porch light.
· Hang or tie a white towel or sheet by the front door as you leave your house. This indicates that the home has been evacuated.
· Lock your house. Access to the area where you live will be denied to prevent possible looting or vandalism.
· Use your own car if you can.
· Take neighbors who need a ride.
· If you have no ride, ask a neighbor or walk to Apache Powder Road to be picked up by the Sheriff Department.
· Keep all car windows and vents closed.
· Do not use your air conditioner or heater unless told to do so by LEPC officials.
· Turn on your car radio to a local station for information. Authorized personnel will be stationed along emergency routes to direct you away from the release and towards a designated reception center.
· Check in at the reception center so that emergency response personnel know that you are safe.
· Pets will not be allowed inside the reception center but may remain in the parking lot or in your vehicle.
You may return to your home when the emergency is declared over and it is safe to return. If the emergency involved vapors, open all your doors and window and ventilate the building when you return home.
If you smell ammonia, if you are told to protect your breathing, or if you experience breathing discomfort, cover your mouth and nose with a wet cloth or handkerchief. Breaths slowly through the “filter”. Water adsorbs approximately 700 times its volume of ammonia. In emergencies that last a long time, people can breathe through the shower spray for relief.
If you get a severe burning sensation in your eyes, immediately flush your eyes with plenty of water while holding the eyelids apart. Continue irrigation as necessary and notify 911. If you feel a burning or “prickling” sensation on the exposed parts of your body, wash them thoroughly with water.
If you have special needs, please complete and mail the enclosed Cochise County Emergency Services Locator Form as soon as possible. The purpose of the information requested on this form is to assist the LEPC in providing assistance to you in the event of a disaster in Cochise County. The information provided will greatly assist the Cochise County Emergency Services’ planning efforts and allow them to better serve you. The information will be held in strict confidence and will be disclosed only to authorized emergency workers.
If you have any questions about this program or the information contained in the informational brochure, please contact ANPI at 720-2217.