Using consequence – based hazard zone assessment for effective evacuation planning of vulnerable settlements along hazmat transport corridors through industrial city of Surat in western India

Abstract

Following a toxic hazmat release, decisions need to be made vis-a-vis a safe evacuation distance for population along the transportation route, or whether to shelter-in-place if there is insufficient time to conduct an evacuation. The first responder may have to take these decisions through a quick estimation of the Initial Isolation Zone (IIZ) and protective action distances based on assumed rate of releases. Real-time evacuation planning models could be used for effective evacuation purposes. However, factors that usually were taken into account include weather conditions, population density, time of day, and uncertainty about the chemicals involved and/or the accumulating concentrations in public areas. Emergency planning including evacuation in India is generally in line with UNEP's APELL (Awareness and Preparedness for Emergencies at Local Level) methodology. However, quantitative risk based assessment is catching up particularly in large industrial zones. The paper highlights a case study of the evaluation of identified seven critical evacuation planning zones along three highway study routes in and around the industrial city of Surat in western India. The elapsed time after a release is estimated through ALOHA and evacuation travel time estimates are made for each zone. For identified scenarios, evacuation of IIZ, generally comprising of road side population, is effectively possible in six out of seven identified emergency planning zones except in zone-7, where certain people would still be exposed, as full evacuation may not be achieved. However, shelter-in-place would be advisable for population residing in permanent settlements within the protective action zone.