Port Fire Underlines Importance Of Effective Emergency Communication

Less than 24 hours after County Commissioner Sandra Murman asked county staff for a report on emergency communications in the event of a chemical spill at the Port of Tampa, Tampa firefighters were called to the port to fight a chemical fire.

On Thursday, Aug. 8, shortly before 9 a.m., a Harbour Island resident reported seeing a plume of smoke from the port.

Fire rescue units arrived at Gulf Sulphur Services at 1015 McCloskey Blvd. and found smoke coming from a large sulphur storage tank.

Workers at the facility said a small fire had ignited during routine maintenance of the tank. As a result, a cloud of sulphur dioxide began drifting toward downtown Tampa. 

As a precaution, residents and employees on the south side of downtown Tampa were told to remain indoors while firefighters spent 2 1/2 hours controlling the hazardous chemical cloud.

Ironically, it was this type of accident that Murman feared when she asked county staff to bring back a full report on what emergency communications are in place in the event of a toxic spill at the port.

While there are sirens installed at fire stations to alert resients of Davis Islands, Harbour Island, downtown Tampa, Ybor City and South Tampa in the event of a port emergency, Murman said daily siren tests have made residents immune to the sound. 

“We don’t really pay attention to it anymore," she told her fellow commissioners Aug. 7. She feared that residents wouldn't react during a real emergency. 

Fortunately, Murman said, her fears proved unfounded a day later. 

"I was encouraged by the response and actions (Aug. 8)  from the Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management and other local agencies in connection with this hazardous materials incident," she said. "People on Harbour Island, Davis Islands, downtown, Channelside, Tampa General Hospital and MacDill Air Force Base were notified through emergency email alerts from the county and the city of Tampa, and the media was also alerted."

She added, however, that she'd like to see the county and port incorporate other avenues of communication, such as the use of social media.

"I'm pleased with our progress, and I know our staff will work with the port and the city of Tampa to improve the communications even more."