Chemicals and Companies
Early June I posted some information on a CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations) class I attended. Unfortunately, when I rebuilt my server I lost a bit of information from June.
In this class I learned how to use some of the most powerful programs out there today for emergency operations. While this software is able to be used at virtually any incident, it’s primary use is for HAZMAT incidents. The three programs CAMEO, ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres), and MARPLOT (Mapping Application for Response, Planning, and Local Operational Tasks) allow us to gather information about a chemical, it’s specific properties, dispersion rates and areas, as well as overlay those dispersion rates and areas on a graphical map of the affected area.
For those out there who need the plain English definition: We find out what chemical is involved, make a graph of hazard zones, and lay that graph over a county map to see exactly who would be affected, and what would happen if the wind direction changes.
Over the past few shifts I’ve been inputting data into the program about existing companies and their chemical inventory. This allows us to quickly anticipate the problem that may arise if a spill was to occur at one of those facilities. Naturally the quicker we could interpret this information, the quicker we could evacuate those who would be affected.
