Scenario_Outline.pdf

VIGILANT GUARD

SCENARIO OUTLINE (Scenario will be played out at Fort Pickett)

5-11MAY2018

Due to the threat of the hurricane, the Helena Chemical, Co. (5503 Canterbury Rd., Walkerton, Va.

23177; King and Queen County) evacuated all personnel early on May 3, 2018 to allow their employees time to prepare for the impending storm. All mandated provisions were in place to ensure security of the site and continuity of operations. The facility is completely evacuated and no one is reachable.

The plant produces a liquid organic peroxide compound that is used primarily in the production of plastic. The peroxide is a weak compound that contains an oxygen-oxygen bond. A small amount of heat will break the bond leading to a complete molecular degeneration. Once the compound is heated enough to break the O-O bond, it starts to react, generating more heat and causing the bulk material to burn.

Due to its geographical location along the Mattaponi River, the Walkerton Fire Dept. began monitoring the flood water levels surrounding the plant. The plant has all regulatory generators and back-up generators required to maintain power to the liquid compound cooling tanks, but flood water exceeding mechanical limits may cause power failure.

Concurrently, due to the evacuation of the greater Virginia Beach area, the VDEM designated shelter locations at the Walkerton Community Fire Station, Upper King and Queen Rescue Squad, Central Fire Station and Lower Fire Station were overwhelmed. Excess personnel were directed to Kiddie Korner Day Care, Inc., 2941 Walkerton Landing Road, Walkerton, Va. 23177. Displaced personnel in excess of 3,000 occupied the day care center and surrounding buildings as local business and home owners opened their doors.

As the storm continued to develop, anticipated floodwaters begin to exceed the previous estimates and a pending release of chemicals became possible. Walkerton Fire Dept. contacted their VDEM LNO to request an extraction, decontamination and medical triage capability to support the Town of Walkerton if the plant loses power, off-gases or explodes due to the chemical reaction.

VDEM LNO notifies the EOC and ESF 16 offers the "VA CERFP" to be placed on stand-by, but due to the number of potential evacuees, they also recommend contacting the PA HRF through EMAC to be placed on concurrent stand-by to provide the extraction, decontamination, medical triage, incident site communications, non-tactical area security and internal command of military forces in Walkerton at the control of the Walkerton Fire Chief or Emergency Manager. Extractions missions may include a series of technical extraction requirements including: pancake collapse, void space, A-frame, vehicle stabilization, confined space and structural shoring. Responders should be prepared to perform multiple technical rescue, rope rescue, confined space rescue and vehicle extractions. Additionally, personnel must be able to breach void zones and void search using acoustic, auditory and thermal methods. The on-scene Safety Officer identified the potential of residual peroxide hazards as well as concrete dust, organic and inorganic debris, animal and human waste, liquid sewage and commercial biohazards and chemicals to be present. No secondary Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are expected. Observed victims have general injuries resulting from both the peroxide-smoke exposure and flying debris, shrapnel and other objects. The worst reported injuries primarily include blunt force trauma, fracture and traumatic amputation, burns, blisters and other crush-related injuries. The majority of persons experience some level of breathing problems from dust, smoke or chlorine gas exposure, combined with some minor soft tissue damage. As a result, the Walkerton Fire Chief requested that all persons found at the site be decontaminated prior to transport to medical treatment facilities.

On May 7, 2018, floodwaters cause the plant and its backup generators to lose power. The first of eight storage containers breached and leaked the peroxide materials into a designated containment system, but due to structural damage, waterborne debris caught fire and the plasticizing smoke began to emit from the plant. The "noxious" smell was detected up to 1.5 miles away. The evening of May 7, 2018, two additional storage containers breached and caused a yellow-colored cloud to "paint" the Town of Walkerton. Evacuees were ordered to shelter-in-place. An expected 3,000 personnel are housed in several buildings in/and around the Walkerton area. Several buildings, namely the Kiddie Korner Day Care, Inc. have been significantly damaged due to the floodwater, high-winds and flying debris. The overwhelmed Walkerton Fire Dept. described the buildings in/and around the Kiddie Korner Day Care to be combination collapse still in dynamic transition.

Secondary effects include interior gas lines being severed and have started fires, roads are damaged or blocked by debris, and glass windows and doors created melee debris which injured several responders attempting to aide stranded or trapped persons. The Walkerton Fire Dept. and neighboring King and Queen County resources are operating at a diminished capacity.

PA HRF and VA CERFP mobilize 07 MAY 18 to JRSOI location.