The City of LaSalle published official emergency safety and evacuation guidelines at its regular meeting last night should something like the Carus Chemical fire of January 11th happen again.
The citizen forum portion of the Regular Meeting got heated when LaSalle resident Jamie Hicks was granted his 5 minutes to speak. Hicks lives in the 4th Ward and during the January 11th Carus fire, the 3rd and 4th Ward of LaSalle were given a shelter-in-place warning which struck Hicks as the edict of Carus rather than the City of LaSalle.
Since then Carus has met with LaSalle City Officials twice at Company headquarters this summer to come up with a joint evacuation plan should anything happen in the future. The document unveiled at last night’s meeting is the result of two safety meetings, between Carus management, the EPA, First Ward Alderman Jim Bacidore, and one member of the public. Hicks wanted to know why those meetings were not held at LP High School for example and open to the public so the group most affected by something like a chemical fire could be heard.
LaSalle 4th Ward Alderman Jordan Crane said last night “Carus has their own emergency plan and they wanted to collaborate with LaSalle and simply be on the same page with LaSalle”.
A copy of the guidelines will be posted below. Carus facilities are not limited to LaSalle, the company stores potentially dangerous chemicals behind the old Ottawa mall on the Southside of Ottawa.
Shelter-In-Place Guidelines for City of LaSalle
Objective: Provide community members with clear, actionable instructions on how to safely
shelter in place during an incident to minimize exposure,
Key Messages:
= Act quickly to find a suitable indoor shelter
– Seal off external airflow into shelter space
~ Remain in place until given the official all-clear
– Listen for updates from authorities
– Prepare shelter rooms in advance
Content Format:
– Emergency text/email alerts – Send immediate notice to the shelter with basic instructions
– Social media posts – Provide regular status updates and reiterate guidance
– Local media interviews – Have company reps reinforce messages on local TV/radio
– Website page – Dedicated shelter-in-place instructions page on the company website
– Public meetings – Communicate plans and open Q&A for community preparedness
Distribution Channels:
– Community alert system texts/emails
– Company and local government social media accounts
– Local TV channels and radio stations
– Website and shared online
– Mailers to residences in the surrounding area
– Posters in public places around the community
– wins system to notify residents via landlines and cell phones
The goal is to educate and instruct the community via multiple formats and channels on how to
safely respond during an incident by taking shelter effectively. Clear, repetitive messaging is key.
Here are some tips for safely responding during an incident by taking shelter effectively:
– Act quickly – Don’t delay. Move indoors as soon as you are notified of the hazard.
– Get inside – Seek shelter indoors in a room above ground level with the fewest windows,
doors, or vents if possible.
– Seal it off – Close all doors, windows, and vents. Use plastic sheeting, duct tape, towels, or
other materials to seal gaps if instructed.
– Shut it down – Turn off air conditioners, fans, and forced heating/cooling drawing in outside air.
– Listen up – Stay tuned to local alerts for updates on the incident status and when it’s safe to
leave the shelter.
– Don’t air it out – Keep your shelter isolated until given the official all-clear, Don’t try to ventilate
yet.
– Prepare ahead – Have emergency supplies ready and identify suitable shelter room locations
in advance. Supplies include food, water, cellular telephones, and blankets.
– Watch for warnings – Be alert for health symptoms like breathing issues or skin irritation
indicating hazardous exposure. Call 911 for any concerning health symptoms,
– Retreat further – If fumes or particles enter the initial shelter, move deeper indoors and seal off
the new space.