Level 3 HazMat Shelter in Place alert in Martinez, CA

KCBS Radio, SF Bay Area, CA ^ | 10-14-01

[Talkwire]

Breaking. At 9pm, in Martinez CA, in the East SF Bay Area, the emergency sirens around the community sounded the shelter in place alarm. This is a level 3 (the most serious) shelter in place warning for all of Martinez and parts of Pleasant Hill and Concord. The Shell/Equilon oil refinery has had an accident, a release of a toxic solid catalyst. No fire reported, yet. More info from locals is appreciated.

[Brian Mosely]

Source

(KCBS) - Officials in Contra Costa County are reporting there has been a release from the Shell Oil Refinery in Martinez. A spokesman for Shell Oil says the release is from one of the refinery’s cracker units. Fire crews are on the scene. The California Highway Patrol has issued a shelter in place warning for residents in the Martinez area.

Maria Duazo, a spokeswoman for Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials, says a solid catalyst is being released and going up into the air. Duazo says there is no fire involved, but there is smoke going up into the air and over the community.

Duazo is calling this a Level 3 incident, the highest level of incident. Contra Costa County has activated its emergency sirens to alert residents in Martinez to shelter in place. People are being asked to avoid breathing in the smoke.

Stay tuned to KCBS All News 740 AM for the latest on this breaking story.

(KCBS akb 9:35p.m.)

[SamAdams76]

What does "shelter in place" mean?

[John Jamieson]

Stay home?

[homegroan]

don't move? stay inside?

[riri]

Is this another unrelated incident? Or has this happened before?

[homegroan]

I knew if I stayed up late enough, something would happen. Please keep us posted if you're there...

[Cool Guy]

HEADS UP TO Y'all BAY AREA FREEPERS!

[Dianna]

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Hope it turns out ok.

[Hillary 666]

What does "shelter in place" mean?

Don't know, but it sounds bad to me. I wonder if this was really an accident. Sorry, maybe I'm being an alarmist here.

[LOC1]

This sounds like a release of catylst from a Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit. If so, the toxic hazard is not severe. That catylst is much like sand, ground to the consistency of flour. It may be satuarated with the feed stock to the unit. That feed stock resembles lubricating oil.

However, there may be a fire hazard, depending on what has caused the release.

[goodieD]

not having any idea what a "shelter in place" warning is..could you explain?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Well now....click on the KCBS source on the top of this thread, they've got a poll running on President Bush's handling of the war.

[noFOB]

Shelter in place is often recommended when there has been a significant release of something potentially harmful into the air. During shelter in place, people should turn off the ventilation to their home and go to an interior room, like a bathroom, and shut the door. Taping around the door and putting a wet towel along the bottom of the door is recommended. People should also take a radio so they can listen for the all clear signal/news, plus they should take water, a flashlight and something to do.

[Cascadians]

We posted the instructions for Shelter In Place here:

Shelter In Place: Make Your Kits

[Davea]

"People are being asked to avoid breathing in the smoke." Good advice (sarcasm)

[homegroan]

is that when they change the fuel from a liquid to a gas? or vice versa?

[JoeA]

Shelter in place means stay inside your house.
These "incidents" happen often enough in this area (near the refineries in Martinez, CA) so no one should jump to the conclusion that it's terrorism. Just the same, I'll check the local news and post if anything comes up.

[grimalkin]

This is something I pulled from a local police department website:

How to Shelter in Place

If a hazardous chemical emergency occurs in your neighborhood, the most important thing to remember is to take action quickly. During a hazardous chemical emergency, you should go inside and stay put. This procedure is called Shelter in Place. You can use your entire house or only a few rooms. Make sure you choose an area that has a telephone, water, a toilet, and someplace you can seal off easily. A bedroom is an excellent choice.

- Go inside
- Turn off heaters and air conditioners and close fireplace dampers
- Close and seal all doors and windows
- Cover you nose and mouth with a wet cloth if necessary
- Listen to your radio or TV
- Wait for the all clear signal before you move outside

[Davea]

KCBS is now saying all clear.