What to Expect in an Emergency
Companies work hard to keep things safe and avoid an emergency. But having an ERP means they’re prepared in case an emergency does happen. What can you expect if you’re affected by an emergency?
Well, first off, there are different levels of emergencies. In Alberta, they’re called levels 1 (low), 2 (medium), and 3 (high). Each level has different rules for letting people know. In general, the higher the level, the higher the risk, and more drastic measures will be taken, such as sheltering in your home or workplace, or evacuation.
Notification
If you need to be notified of an emergency, you’ll be contacted by phone. In addition, people will be dispatched to your area to make sure you get the message. They’ll actually talk to you at your door. If that’s not possible—for example with farmers out in their fields—they’ll try to find you, and if they can’t they’ll leave messages on your doors. People called “rovers” will also be sent out to look for any folks in your area who may not live there, such as trappers, industrial operators, or homeless people.
If you have special needs, you’ll be contacted on a priority basis, so you have as much time as possible for whatever you need to do in the situation. If you need to evacuate but don’t have transportation, you may be asked to shelter in your home until transportation that is dispatched reaches you. Sheltering in your house (which is insulated for Canadian winters and is thus also able to filter the air quite well) is something you may also be asked to do if it isn’t possible to evacuate safely, such as if you’d have to drive through a gas plume to get out.
Evacuation
If you need to evacuate, there may be a special “reception centre” (such as a legion hall or community centre) you are told that you can go to. Everything will be supplied for you at the reception centre. Besides any special medication you may require, you do not need to take anything along. This includes any animals—the hard reality is that emergencies are very urgent situations and so people come first. However, during the ERP process you may ask to make special arrangementswith the company’s land department. For example, a woman with many horses asked the company to contact her right away, even if it was just a level 1 emergency, so that she would have time to make arrangements for her horses. In terms of any livestock, the ERCB has an EnerFAQ that may provide you with helpful advice.
If you’re not home at the time of the emergency and people are being evacuated, there will also be roadblocks to keep you from getting back in. If you’ve got kids in a school within the EPZ, their school will be notified so it can use its own ERP to take care of your children and notify any buses of roadblocks.
Ignition
Sometimes, a well is ignited if an evacuation can’t be accomplished, monitoring shows dangerous levels of H2S will affect many people nearby, monitoring isn’t being done, or the release won’t be able to be brought under control quickly. Lighting it on fire burns that dangerous gas, which changes its chemistry into a less toxic one.
After the Emergency
Testing will be done by a very accurate mobile air quality monitor to determine when the incident is over and it is safe to go home. They’ll also track the plume (due to wind) and will alter or enlarge the EPZ as needed.