Apex chemical fire - and YOU.
For the last few weeks I’ve probably been preceived as preaching to some extent regarding "survival", and being prepared.
Let me give you a very good example of WHY I have been doing this.
Late last evening (Thursday, 5 November 2006, at about 10:00 PM) a chemical waste storage facility in Apex, North Carolina containing large, unknown quantities (at this time) of various chemicals, paints, fertilizer and other dangerous, perhaps explosive chemicals exploded.
This prompted local authorities to evacuate approximately 17,000 people and residents from the area. Latest reports tell me the following pieces of information:
1) No cause is known at this point.
2) 17,000 people have been evacuated
3) The time of the event roughly 10PM in the evening.
4) Chemicals present? Chlorine for sure…
5) at least 18 people were hospitized. 8 Law enforcement and 10 civilians mostly with breathing issues.
6) 20 - 30 explosions occurred inside the plant.
7) Homeland Security is monitoring the situation….
8) People are NOT going to be allowed back in until fire is out.
Ok… let’s examine this situation. It started late at night. Could be an act of terrorism, but most likely is not. Company was fined $32,000 bucks for not properly handling hazardous waste. People have been asked to leave the area…. middle of the night, pack up and get out, now.
They may be allowed back in today, but what if this were more serious? What if this were a fire in a nuclear plant? What if the area was in worse shape and firefighters could NOT get into the area this morning. Note that they waited until this morning to begin fighting the fires.
People were asked to leave quickly.
What if this were you? You family? Your neighborhood? What IF you have no food, clothing, water? What do you do?
Most incidents like this, the Red Cross will come in quickly and help out. But, assume this were bigger, like a blizzard in a region. What if it were a large fire, like we suffered here in Colorado a couple of years back, with the Hayman fire. Or the current fires in California? And you’re evacuating.
These are the kinds of things I’ve been trying to get you to think about.
Think. Plan. Act. Do something, but don’t sit on your behind and think "It can not happen here".
If you do, as sure as Reality, it will.
