Floods, hurricanes and snowstorms – how our facilities prepare for weather emergencies
11.17.2020
Keeping our facilities and people safe requires planning, foresight and coordination, especially as it applies to weather emergencies.
Everett Carpenter oversees the day-to-day operations of the security and emergency services department at ArcelorMittal Coatesville. This includes preparing for and managing emergency situations, including severe weather events. Every September, Everrett and his team begin preparations for snow emergencies by reviewing the written snow plans, ordering supplies and meeting with contractors. They aim to have all snow resources in place by October 31, which is normally well in advance of any winter weather threats. When it comes to rains events, like they recently experienced with tropical storm Isaias, their planning also begins well in advance. They annually review Coatesville’s flood planning documents and proactively perform tasks such as walking the two waterways running through the facility and looking for debris build-up and water flow restrictions.
As storms are forecasted, whether it be winter weather, a flood threat, or even a severe summertime thunderstorm, they quickly gather as much information as possible. Systematically, they then begin to execute their response to the weather threat by using their plans as guidance, while continuing to monitor real-time events and adjusting the plan as needed.
“We try to keep things as simple as possible by developing a checklist for people to carry with them. It is much easier carrying a single checklist than a 25-page document and it also helps to ensure we are aligning our overall response tactics with the hazard mitigation strategy initiated,” shares Everett.
Our AM/NS Calvert facility is located along the Gulf Coast in Alabama, making it particularly vulnerable to hurricanes.
Our AM/NS Calvert facility located along the Gulf Coast in Alabama must also be prepared in case of weather emergencies - particularly hurricanes, which are a common occurrence in the region. Jed Fulford is the team manager of emergency response at AM/NS Calvert, overseeing a team of 30 fire and security personnel. His department leads the monitoring of extreme weather and assembles the Tropical Weather Committee which consists of executives, managers and the safety team.
Whenever there is a hurricane, the committee meets at the 72-hour mark before landfall near their coastal area. The weather monitoring occurs each day, as they have severe thunderstorms just about every day during the summer and warnings will be issued to all personnel detailing whether they are under a “severe thunderstorm warning,” “tornado watch,” or a “tornado warning,” at which time a seek shelter statement will be given. Messages via radio, phone, intercom, and a mill-wide siren system are sent when any tornado warning is given with instructions. An all-clear will then be issued upon the threat diminishing.
Jed explains, “We have a checklist for each mill on what is needed in case of any emergency, who is responsible for the completion of said checklist, and the assembly of storm ride out crews. Preparation, accountability and communication are key. Our philosophy is the more proactive we are, the less reactive that we will have to be."
According to Jed, 2020 has been the worst year since 2005 for the number of hurricanes affecting the Alabama Gulf Coast and the Calvert facility. Fortunately, the mill only sustained minimal damage from all the hurricanes and experienced no tornado damage. With hurricane season ending soon, the team hopes for a calmer weather year in 2021.
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