There are videoclips involving two separate disaster incidents that resulted from large-scale industrial accidents, each with its own corresponding question.
You are to respond to only ONE of the following two case studies. Please make sure to identify which case study to which you are responding.
CASE STUDY 1: Bhopal Chemical Disaster: (WARNING: These videos contain graphic and disturbing images. If you elect not to view them please answer Question 2 instead)
- Discuss how Incident Action Planning could be used to protect those responding to the event.
- Discuss your reaction to this disaster and identify three potential measures that could have/should have been in place that would have substantially mitigated the effects of this tragedy:
Watch these videos on the Bhopal disaster and conduct additional research to formulate your response.
CASE STUDY 2: Ajka Alumina Plant Chemical Waste Sludge Release
On October 4, 2010, roughly one million cubic meters of liquid chemical waste burst from a red mud reservoir of the Ajka Alumina Plant, inundating the small village of Kolontár, Hungary . The 2-4 meters high wave of toxic sludge flooded the small village west of Budapest. Hungary’s worst chemical accident killed six Kolontár residents immediately, and injured more than hundred village inhabitants that suffered severe chemical burns caused by sodium hydroxide found in the sludge. You are the Town of Kolontár Emergency Manager and within hours of the event occurring, you receive a call from the Hungarian Prime Minister offering your assistance.
- What kind of assistance do you think you will need within the initial Incident Action Period and the remainder of the first week, while in the response phase?
Here are a couple of sources for your consideration: