Spencer, MA Water Spencer, MA Water EmergencyEmergency

April 25-28, 2007April 25-28, 2007

Presented by Spencer Fire Chief Presented by Spencer Fire Chief Robert P. ParsonsRobert P. Parsons

Spencer, MASpencer, MA

Community of 13,000 residentsCommunity of 13,000 residents 35 Square miles in size35 Square miles in size Full time private EMSFull time private EMS Call Fire DepartmentCall Fire Department Roughly 1700 water connections to buildingsRoughly 1700 water connections to buildings Roughly 4000 citizens on the water systemRoughly 4000 citizens on the water system 6 schools have town water (regional school 6 schools have town water (regional school

district) (one school located in East Brookfield)district) (one school located in East Brookfield) Numerous restaurants and other businessesNumerous restaurants and other businesses

Water EmergencyWater Emergency

First calls received by the Spencer Police First calls received by the Spencer Police Dispatch were at 0633hrs. Two calls were Dispatch were at 0633hrs. Two calls were received simultaneously. One for 2 Main St and received simultaneously. One for 2 Main St and the second at 200 Main St. Symptoms were the second at 200 Main St. Symptoms were burning skin and rashes. Both after taking burning skin and rashes. Both after taking showers. A distance of roughly 11/2 miles.showers. A distance of roughly 11/2 miles.

Initial responses were by Spencer Ambulances Initial responses were by Spencer Ambulances and local mutual aid ambulancesand local mutual aid ambulances

NotificationsNotifications

0648 hrs Water Department paged, Police 0648 hrs Water Department paged, Police officers on scene reporting a strong smell to the officers on scene reporting a strong smell to the water like chlorine and a film on the victims. water like chlorine and a film on the victims.

Water Dept employees investigating at the plant Water Dept employees investigating at the plant found an internal alarm for high levels of PH found an internal alarm for high levels of PH going off. Immediately went out to flush going off. Immediately went out to flush hydrants.hydrants.

Police advised the victims were trying to Police advised the victims were trying to RINSE OFF THE FILM WITH COLD TAP RINSE OFF THE FILM WITH COLD TAP WATER!!!WATER!!!

More callsMore calls

I was advised of a possible issue @ I was advised of a possible issue @ 0713hrs. 0757hrs I responded to town and 0713hrs. 0757hrs I responded to town and advised of another call at 12 High St. advised of another call at 12 High St.

EMS personnel were rinsing the victims off EMS personnel were rinsing the victims off with sterile water and quickly running out.with sterile water and quickly running out.

Fire Department personnel dispatched to Fire Department personnel dispatched to the station to bring bottle water to the the station to bring bottle water to the ambulances.ambulances.

Mobile Decon UnitMobile Decon Unit

0812hrs The Town of Southbridge Fire 0812hrs The Town of Southbridge Fire (County control Point) was requested to (County control Point) was requested to notify the Town of Northbridge Fire for the notify the Town of Northbridge Fire for the MA Fire District 7 MDU to respond MA Fire District 7 MDU to respond

Board of HealthBoard of Health 0821hrs Requested to be notified by the Fire 0821hrs Requested to be notified by the Fire

Chief.Chief. Spencer Health Agent was on vacation, needing Spencer Health Agent was on vacation, needing

to notify the Leicester Board of Health Agent to notify the Leicester Board of Health Agent which was covering for Spencer. She was paged which was covering for Spencer. She was paged once and did not call in until the afternoon, she once and did not call in until the afternoon, she was not notified of the seriousness of the was not notified of the seriousness of the incident.incident.

Board of Health clerks misunderstood the Board of Health clerks misunderstood the seriousness of the situation and did not make seriousness of the situation and did not make the needed notifications as quickly as they the needed notifications as quickly as they should have.should have.

0847hrs MCI declared by Fire Chief. 4 more 0847hrs MCI declared by Fire Chief. 4 more EMS calls received by Police Dispatch. EMS calls received by Police Dispatch. Requested 10 ambulances to stage at the Requested 10 ambulances to stage at the Spencer Fire Station.Spencer Fire Station.

0848hrs notified the Clinical Supervisor for 0848hrs notified the Clinical Supervisor for Spencer Rescue at work to respond. Requested Spencer Rescue at work to respond. Requested additional crews from SRS be brought into work. additional crews from SRS be brought into work. Call personnel.Call personnel.

EOC established at the fire station. State of EOC established at the fire station. State of Emergency declared by Local Officials.Emergency declared by Local Officials.

Sodium HydroxideSodium Hydroxide

0848hrs Water Department personnel advised 0848hrs Water Department personnel advised Chief Parsons and Sgt Agnew of an inadvertent Chief Parsons and Sgt Agnew of an inadvertent increase of Sodium Hydroxide into the water increase of Sodium Hydroxide into the water system when a valve was left in the incorrect system when a valve was left in the incorrect position. position. We received notification of the chemical We received notification of the chemical approximately 2 hours after Water Department approximately 2 hours after Water Department employees were aware of the issue at the plant.employees were aware of the issue at the plant.

We now knew it was not an intentional act and We now knew it was not an intentional act and was a system failure.was a system failure.

The chemical involvedThe chemical involved

SODIUM HYDROXIDE---------SODIUM HYDROXIDE---------LYE-LYE-

SynonymsSynonyms:: Caustic soda; lye; sodium hydroxide solid; sodium Caustic soda; lye; sodium hydroxide solid; sodium hydrate hydrate CAS No.:CAS No.: 1310-73-2 1310-73-2 Molecular Weight:Molecular Weight: 40.00 40.00 Chemical Formula:Chemical Formula: NaOH NaOH

Ingestion:Ingestion: Corrosive! Swallowing may cause severe burns of mouth, throat, and Corrosive! Swallowing may cause severe burns of mouth, throat, and stomach. Severe scarring of tissue and death may result. Symptoms stomach. Severe scarring of tissue and death may result. Symptoms may include bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, fall in blood pressure. may include bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, fall in blood pressure. Damage may appear days after exposure. Damage may appear days after exposure.

Skin Contact:Skin Contact: Corrosive! Contact with skin can cause irritation or severe burns and Corrosive! Contact with skin can cause irritation or severe burns and scarring with greater exposures. scarring with greater exposures.

Potential of VictimsPotential of VictimsPotential for victims was huge. Possibly thousands could have been Potential for victims was huge. Possibly thousands could have been affected.affected.Water Department was unsure how much of the chemical was in the Water Department was unsure how much of the chemical was in the system and where.system and where.

Initial NotificationsInitial Notifications

By 0912hrs announcements were now By 0912hrs announcements were now being made over all town radio channels.being made over all town radio channels.

Town Hall staff was notifying food Town Hall staff was notifying food establishments in town.establishments in town.

Dental and Doctors officesDental and Doctors offices Sent fax to all media outlets to announce Sent fax to all media outlets to announce

to “DO NOT USE THE WATER”to “DO NOT USE THE WATER”

What was the Number 1 What was the Number 1 issue facing responders at issue facing responders at this point??this point??

Water, Water Everywhere and not Water, Water Everywhere and not a drop to drink or to provide a drop to drink or to provide

decontamination.decontamination.

Decon in the neighboring Town of Decon in the neighboring Town of East BrookfieldEast Brookfield

Separate Water system from Separate Water system from Spencer’s contaminated system.Spencer’s contaminated system.

ICS and NIMSICS and NIMS

Unified command Staff.Unified command Staff. Multiple locations Multiple locations Multiple disciplines and AgenciesMultiple disciplines and Agencies Was it useful or not?? Who did better than Was it useful or not?? Who did better than

others??others??

Staging areasStaging areas

Ambulance staging areas. Ambulance staging areas. Dirty versus clean ambulancesDirty versus clean ambulances Where could we get them fromWhere could we get them from When did we change When did we change

our mode of mutual our mode of mutual aid responsesaid responses

Who did 911 EMS callsWho did 911 EMS calls

outside the incidentoutside the incident

Additional NotificationsAdditional Notifications

Sign boards placed on each town line for Sign boards placed on each town line for Route 9 and 31.Route 9 and 31.

Placed on the town’s web site and cable Placed on the town’s web site and cable access.access.

Utility and Facility personnel and Sheriff’s Utility and Facility personnel and Sheriff’s Dept going door to door with flyersDept going door to door with flyers

4 flyers in total were sent out over the 4 flyers in total were sent out over the event. Schools were utilized for event. Schools were utilized for notifications through flyers.notifications through flyers.

Decontamination in EBDecontamination in EB

Originally set up Gross Decontamination Originally set up Gross Decontamination until the MDU arrived from Northbridge until the MDU arrived from Northbridge Fire.Fire.

Fire District 8 MDU requested-issueFire District 8 MDU requested-issue Massachusetts Department of Fire Massachusetts Department of Fire

Services MDU sent-issueServices MDU sent-issue Spare MDU sent from Fire District 11Spare MDU sent from Fire District 11

Anyone with symptoms sent to East Anyone with symptoms sent to East Brookfield for triage and then Brookfield for triage and then decontaminationdecontamination

Priorities sent directly to Saint Vincent’s Priorities sent directly to Saint Vincent’s Hospital in the City of Worcester and Hospital in the City of Worcester and decontamination accomplished with The decontamination accomplished with The City of Worcester Fire’s MDU.City of Worcester Fire’s MDU.

Massachusetts Department of Fire Massachusetts Department of Fire ServicesServices

Incident Support unit @ Spencer Fire Incident Support unit @ Spencer Fire MDU@ East Brookfield Fire DepartmentMDU@ East Brookfield Fire Department

Rehab unit@ East Brookfield Fire Rehab unit@ East Brookfield Fire Tier 1 Haz mat@ East Brookfield FDTier 1 Haz mat@ East Brookfield FD

Massachusetts Emergency Massachusetts Emergency Management AgencyManagement Agency

Assisted with Bottled Water deliveries (assigned Assisted with Bottled Water deliveries (assigned State Police escorts) (Multiple sources needed State Police escorts) (Multiple sources needed to meet the demand)to meet the demand)

Hand Sanitizer from CVS Pharmacies donatedHand Sanitizer from CVS Pharmacies donated Sign BoardsSign Boards Light TowersLight Towers Local EMA handled rehab at all sites, food Local EMA handled rehab at all sites, food

distribution and handing out water and flyersdistribution and handing out water and flyers

Press ConferencesPress Conferences

First one issued at 1130hrs at the Spencer First one issued at 1130hrs at the Spencer Rescue Squad. Located behind the fire Rescue Squad. Located behind the fire and police stations. All disciplines present and police stations. All disciplines present to answer questions to local and national to answer questions to local and national media.media.

AmbulancesAmbulances

Doing fine with original ambulances out of Doing fine with original ambulances out of The City Of Worcester and local EMS. The City Of Worcester and local EMS.

At 1pm EMS units unable to keep up with At 1pm EMS units unable to keep up with requests. Two ambulance task forces requests. Two ambulance task forces were requested to respond to Spencer were requested to respond to Spencer From Fire District’s 10 and 11. Split EMS From Fire District’s 10 and 11. Split EMS units between Spencer Fire and East units between Spencer Fire and East Brookfield Fire.Brookfield Fire.

EMS task forcesEMS task forces

A total of 6 ambulance task forces were used. 36 A total of 6 ambulance task forces were used. 36 EMS private companies or Municipal EMS EMS private companies or Municipal EMS providers responded to the requests.providers responded to the requests.

PatientsPatients A total of 105 patients were transported to area A total of 105 patients were transported to area

hospitals.hospitals. 145 were seen at triage145 were seen at triage 1 still recovering from serious burns to her 1 still recovering from serious burns to her

digestive tractdigestive tract

Fire DepartmentsFire Departments

14 Fire Departments were involved in the 14 Fire Departments were involved in the incident.incident.

Town of Leicester Engine Company and Tender Town of Leicester Engine Company and Tender from Spencer covered calls during the event.from Spencer covered calls during the event.

Two Structural Strike Forces from Fire District 7 Two Structural Strike Forces from Fire District 7 were used to man the Spencer and East were used to man the Spencer and East Brookfield Stations through the night and they Brookfield Stations through the night and they manned decontamination areas. One reported manned decontamination areas. One reported building fire during the night in Spencer.building fire during the night in Spencer.

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Community needs some mechanism to alert the Community needs some mechanism to alert the public in a more expeditious manner.public in a more expeditious manner.

Utilizing a larger circle of local ambulances first.Utilizing a larger circle of local ambulances first. Clerk to be a scribe to write everything downClerk to be a scribe to write everything down Greater need for female Emergency Medical Greater need for female Emergency Medical

Technician’s or Firefighters for the Mobile Technician’s or Firefighters for the Mobile Decontamination Unit’s.Decontamination Unit’s.

Some department’s that have taken NIMS Some department’s that have taken NIMS or ICS have no real concept of itor ICS have no real concept of it

Need mutual aid agreements for Need mutual aid agreements for Emergency Management agencies to Emergency Management agencies to cross lines.cross lines.

Paperwork at decontamination needs to Paperwork at decontamination needs to be more completebe more complete

Better tracking of victims that came Better tracking of victims that came through decontamination.through decontamination.

More command staff in the beginning of More command staff in the beginning of the incidentthe incident

Not enough soap in Mobile Decon Unit’sNot enough soap in Mobile Decon Unit’s MDU’s showed up in non working MDU’s showed up in non working

conditioncondition Northbridge Fire crews excellent helping Northbridge Fire crews excellent helping

with the MDU’swith the MDU’s Needed portable toilets for both locationsNeeded portable toilets for both locations Feminine hygiene products at deconFeminine hygiene products at decon Many complaints of uneasiness disrobing Many complaints of uneasiness disrobing

at deconat decon

Needed Public Information Officer’s at Needed Public Information Officer’s at both locationsboth locations

Spencer Dispatch not notified of all things Spencer Dispatch not notified of all things happening at locations.happening at locations.

Weather cooperatedWeather cooperated Door to door Flyers worked but a lot of Door to door Flyers worked but a lot of

work-shoe leather expresswork-shoe leather express Town’s web site and local cable access Town’s web site and local cable access

worked wellworked well

EMA had some agreements for food. Need a EMA had some agreements for food. Need a

LOT more outside our community.LOT more outside our community. Changing staff at both sites needed time to work Changing staff at both sites needed time to work

everyone in and get them familiar with the everyone in and get them familiar with the MDU’s and deconMDU’s and decon

Should of called Mass Corp of Fire Chaplains for Should of called Mass Corp of Fire Chaplains for people psychological aspectspeople psychological aspects

Critical Incident Stress Management personnel Critical Incident Stress Management personnel for first respondersfor first responders

Better security at both sites.Better security at both sites. Communications with all sitesCommunications with all sites

OverallOverall

This was an incident that had never This was an incident that had never presented itself in Massachusetts.presented itself in Massachusetts.

First Time ever that the Massachusetts First Time ever that the Massachusetts statewide ambulance task forces were statewide ambulance task forces were used.used.

The event lasted three days until the water The event lasted three days until the water was back to “Normal”was back to “Normal”

Blue Ribbon CommissionBlue Ribbon Commission Town brought in 5 independent people to review Town brought in 5 independent people to review

our response and provide a “After Action our response and provide a “After Action Report”.Report”.

A Generalist, a Water Resource Discipline, a A Generalist, a Water Resource Discipline, a Town Administrator of another community, a Town Administrator of another community, a water user in Spencer, and an outside EMS water user in Spencer, and an outside EMS person.person.

After Action Report was completed September After Action Report was completed September of 2007.of 2007.

Using the Homeland Security Exercise and Using the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, Evaluation Program, “Performed with some “Performed with some challenges, but adequately”challenges, but adequately”

Link to the Blue Ribbon Link to the Blue Ribbon Commission report.Commission report.

http://www.spencerma.gov/tile.ez?pageId=3471&actionName=display&from=page or go to www.spencerma.gov and lick on the link for “Hot News”