Document 0qGx4GdbdnJybJ1OYzgRNLkxn

> A. Hurricane Threat. HURRICANE PROCEDURE A hurricane is a tropical cyclonic storm in which winds reach constant speeds of 74 mph or more, and blow in a large counter-clockwise spiral around a relatively calm center of low barometric pressure which is known as the eye of the hurricane. Maximum velocity winds extend 20 or 30 miles outward from the rim of the eye and may gust in excess of 200 mph. The most dangerous part of a hurricane, causing the most damage and causing nine of ten hurricane fatalities, is the storm surge. The storm surge is a great dome of sea water, often 50 miles wide, that sweeps across the coast line as the eye makes landfall. During extreme ^ hurricanes such as Hurricane Camille in 1969, the storm surge is as much as 25 feet above mean sea level. Hurricane winds, above 74 mph, are the most familiar danger. The high winds are particularly destructive to temporary buildings, signs, trees, power lines, windows, etc. Debris flying from the destruction is a great threat to personal safety. Some hurricanes spawn tornadoes which inflict major destruction. The torrential rains of a hurricane, 6 to 12 inches and more, and the resultant flooding are another very dangerous part of a hurricane. * SL 010716 tiv ^r'^our .,1 of 1"" jortie'Vv-U** \\o < 1 The six-month period from June through November is considered the Atlantic hurricane season.*/The storms originate In the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean as far east as the Cape Verde islands just west of the African coast. There is an average of six Atlantic hurricanes per year but there have been as many as eleven and as few as zero. During the 1893, 1950, and 1961 seasons, four hurricanes were observed in progress at the same time. Storm movement forward is slow in the tropical latitudes, 15 mph or less. Moving north away from the equator a storm will tend to accelerate moving forward 50 mph in extreme cases. A storm with hurricane force winds 100 miles from its center and moving north at 25 mph would require approximately 8 hours to pass. Tropical storms and hurricanes are not totally predictable; but with satellites, weather planes, radar, and other modern surveillance tech niques, the forecasts have become reliable and precise enough for the plant to prepare for the storm. In general, the plant will operate during gale force winds and possibly during weak hurricane force winds; but under a significant threat of destructive force winds, the plant will be shut down with enough lead time, approximately 4 hours, to allow non-essential personnel to be with their families during the emergency. B. Hurricane Information The National Weather Service began a new system for advising the public of the threat of approaching hurricanes or tropical storms In 1983. SL 010717 CONFIDENTIAL: Subject to Protective; Order 2 of 14th Judicial District Court Ho. 91-1145 Besides Information about storm Intensity and location, NWS advisories now predict the percent probability for eye landfall at coastal cities. These new forecasts will require careful interpretation in order to begin protective actions early enough and to begin planning emergency operations. They will be issued as much as 72 hours in advance of landfall and will be updated at six-hour intervals by NWS. When a storm is in the Gulf, the Lake Charles weather bureau will issue 3-hour local advisories, and if the storm is within 100 miles, the local advisories will be increased to 2-hour intervals. The NWS advisories will predict the eye landfall probabilities within a 65-mile radius of 44 coastal towns and cities from Brownsville, Texas, to Eastport, Maine. The plant will key on the Port Arthur, Texas--Cameron, La. (combined) and New Iberia, La. probabilities. The probabilities quoted in early advisories will be low--for instance, a 72-hour advisory will quote a maximum probability for landfall anywhere at only 10%. With shorter approach times (the storm is closer), higher probabilities are predicted as follows: Approach Time 72 Hours 48 Hours 36 Hours 24 Hours Less than 24 hours SL 010718 Max. Probability 10% 13-18% 20-25% 35-45% 60-70% COMF1DEHYIAL! Subject to Protective Order of 14th Judicial District Court 3 Ho. *1-1145 Two aspects of the probability forecast are important. If this location has the highest probability when compared to neighboring locations, our hurricane threat is greatest. Also,, any threat becomes greater with Increasing values from one advisory to the next. The plant should be placed on official hurricane alert as early as possible. Using the NWS probability forecasts, an alert should be called upon the earliest advisory that predicts a significant percent probability for landfall at this area. Use the following minimum percent probabilities: Approach Time 72 Hours 48 Hours 36 Hours 24 Hours Less than 24 hours Min. Probability 1% 2% 3% 5% 7% Repeating, we should go on official alert upon the first NWS advisory that predicts landfall in this area by the above minimum significant probabilities. Hurricane Alert The Shift Superintendent will place the; plant on official alert status at the first National Weather Service advisory and that predicts a significant percent probability for landfall at this area (see preceding hurricane information).. When an alert has been issued, each area of the plant CONFIDENTIAL* Subject to Protective 0r`J!r SL 010719 of I4tl Judicial District tour 4 o. 91-H45 should follow Its specific hurricane alert procedure. The general purpose of an alert Is to notify all personnel and to allow all units to prepare for the storm. 1. Shift Superintendent places plant on hurricane alert. a. Superintendent informs shift supervisors who inform unit control rooms. b. Superintendent informs Emergency Coordinator and Emergency Conmunicator. (1) Emergency Coordinator informs: Works Manager Plant Managers Production, Power, and Shipping Superintendents Medical, Safety, and Fire Protection Cafeteria Manager Maintenance Superintendents SL 010720 5 (2) Emergency Conmunlcator notifies the following radio and TV stations: KPLC - TV 7 KADK - AM 1400 KEZM - FM 100 KLCL - AM 1470 KL0U - AM KYKZ - FM 96 439-9071 436-7541 527-5202 433-1641 436-7277 439-3300 Request media to make public announcement that plant is on alert, that employees should continue to report to work and stay tuned for later developments. .2 Hurricane Alert General Notification List The following is a list of commodities and services received by or sent from the plant. Suppliers or consumers must be notified that the plant is preparing to shut down operation if the storm threatens. Responsibility for notification is listed. The emergency coordinator will follow up completion of this phase of the alert. SL 010721 SO ot 6 'JV' Notified GSU Conoco Chlorine Certainteed Oupiter/Conoco H^ Texaco, Conoco Fuel Ethylene Suppliers Oxygen, Nitrogen Suppliers Liquid Air, H^ 01 in, CO2 Sand Suppliers HC1 Pipeline, TUCC, & 01 In 01in. Brine General Office Notifier Power Department Liquefaction VCM I C Chlorine Power Department Plant B Plant B C Chlorine Silicas Silicas Plant B Power Department Production Planning Dept. 3. Hurricane alert general checklist - all units are responsible for the following: a. Inspect for and secure all loose material such as scaffold boards and lumber, empty drums, unbraced glass windows, awnings, and Visqueen. Inspect all roof areas and tank tops. b. Inspect and anchor down all temporary buildings and work shacks, t fteSpe-W Vo s---e Uw --1 s,\z_\j. C^V VV"P .-Nl V c\f~ c. Fill empty storage tanks. Most tanks only need a small amount, the heel should be adequate. Use liquid normally stored. A SL 010722 CONPIDENTIAt * Subject to Protective Order 7 of 14th Judicial lH.fftri.ct Court tall stand-alone tank should be about 1/3 full. Any volume Is better than empty. d. Open drain valves in all storage tank dikes. e. Check operation of unit Isolation valves. f. Fuel up all vehicles, portable compressors, pumps, etc, g. Check drinking water, rain gear, first-aid supplies, small tools, flashlights and batteries, rags, mops, and other miscel laneous supplies. Shutdown 1. The Decision The decision to shut down will be made by the Works Manager or his designee. If possible, shut down should be completed approximately four hours before winds reach hurricane force. Several factors must be evaluated to reach a shut down decision including storm intensity, size, forward movement, landfall proba bility, and lead time. Although the storm brings a danger of flooding, the destructive force winds are the most dangerous for the plant. In judging the potential impact of an approaching storm, it SL 010723 CONFIDENTIAL! Subject to Protective Order of 14th Judicial District Court V 8 NO. 91-1145 must be remembered that a 100 mph wind has almost twice the destrui tlve force of a 74 mph wind. Therefore, It Is very advisable to shut down when the probability of receiving 74 mph winds and stronger gusts is high and urgently advisable when the predicted wind velocity exceeds 100 mph. The timeliness of the shut-down decision is crucial. The plant can be crashed down within four hours, but given more lead time there will be less problems with gas releases, spills, and mechanical failures. If at all possible allow 24 hours lead time, but with storms originating in the Gulf there probably won't be that much warning. 2. The Shut-down All units should shut down completely. "A" Power will provide emergency utility service because it is sheltered and can feed minimum power to all units without using the vulnerable 69 KV power loop. "A" Power will operate two 600 psig boilers and two Elliott generators to provide minimum emergency service utilities. It has been estimated that the minimum power requirement is 10,700 KW and 325 CFM gas (not including boiler fuel). 9 The A Power boilers should be started when the plant Is first placed on alert so that A Power will be ready for emergency service when "C" Power and "A" Riverside shut down. NOTE: As this procedure is being written, the two 69/13.8 KV transformers at C Power have not been re-phased. Until they are, "A" and "C" Power cannot be tied together to line up emergency service from "A" Power. In case the transformers have not been rephased, emergency service will be supplied from "C" Power and "A" Power. "C" Power will operate No. 1 gas turbine for power and No. 1 boiler for steam. "A" Power will run an Elliott generator with steam from "C" for emergency power in Plants A and B. The 69 KV power loop must be de-energized for the storm. This emergency power alignment is much less desirable because C Power is not sheltered from the weather and it would require a full-time operating crew. Shut-down Sequence This procedure does not propose an absolute sequence of shutdown. That can be determined at the time judging the circumstances. Operations are grouped into three major categories. Some units can be shut down independently, while others must be coordinated. COHFIDBtn'iKb* SL Subjec 0f 14tb 10 a. Independent Operations Pels - Hill probably dump concentrators, kill Dowtherm furnace fires, and keep dutch oven fire. Silicas - Will shut down frit reactor, dissolver, dryers, all pumps, and keep furnace on idle. 70% Caustic Concentrators - Can be shut down and pump'ed out at any time. Waste Treatment - Shut down everything but incinerators at any time. b. HC1 Dependent Operations (1) Shut down EC-HC1, then coordinate VC I and II and OHC.- (2) Coordinate TEII, etc. (3) Coordinate Per-Tri - For Effluent pH control. (4) Coordinate incinerators for effluent pH control. SL 010726 II c. Lg_ Dependent Operations (1) Mercury Cells, EDC-gas, A Riverside Power down together. (2) A- Elec., Liquefaction units. (3) C - Chlorine, Conoco, Liquefaction units. (4) A - Caustic, SC12* (5) C - Caustic, C - Power. Note: Plants A & C operate brine treatment plants as long as possible to fill treated brine storage tanks. Shutdown Completion Detailed shut-down instructions must be given at each unit. As progress is made, each unit must report it to the Shift Superinten dent and Emergency Coordinator. When a unit is secure, non-essential personnel will be excused upon Shift Superintendent authority. Each unit will be responsible for reporting any equipment that is operating such as air conditioners or air compressors and the number of employees on duty for surveillance. SL 010727 OOJrPI UENT.I A L: Subject to Protective Order of 14th Judicial District Court Vo, 5U-U45 12