What are your area hazards? Chemical Spill Effecting 9 counties, WV
Kanawha, Boone, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam and Roane. In the capital city of Charleston
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/10...res-emergency/
MSDS http://www.chemicalbook.com/ProductM...7273771_EN.htm
I'm not effected by the emergency.
The release of 4-Methylcyclohexanol(589-91-3) a coal processing chemical/solvent, was on Elk River that flows in to the Kanawha River. This is a nasty chemical. Customers of West Virginia American Water in the affected areas also got the order from Tomblin on Thursday night: Do not drink, bathe, cook or wash clothes with tap water. The only thing they say you can do with it is flush the toilet. It is a strong irritant that can cause blisters on the skin if the concentration is strong enough. I haven't found any mention of injury or illness from using the water. It seems that the warning got out before the contamination got past water treatment according to several articles. According to technical bulletins the chemical shouldn't last in the water, bottom silt or linger in fish and animal populations.
Funny thing is that the first announcement I read stated and cautioned people Not to rush stores for bottled water. LOL Well that didn't have much effect on slowing things down.
Moral to the story. It doesn't have to be end of the world to find a reason to be prepared.
Part of my hazard assessment includes using EnviroMapper. It is an interactive map that allows you to locate manufactures and usere or waste generators of hazardous chemicals. Check out the maps.
Here are some On Line tools that can help you identify potential risks from an incident like the one in Charleston WV.
EnviroMapper.
http://www.epa.gov/emefdata/em4ef.ht...xt=26253,%20WV
Other searchable maps for EPA related hazards Air, Land, Water, Radiation as well as compliance data,
http://www.epa.gov/enviro/facts/topicsearch.html#water
Community Right to Know act info. Companies are required to report and declare the hazards associated with their business under this act.
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/r2k.htm#comm
