Future training sessions are recommended following a review of the emergency response to Imperial's 150-foot tower collapse April 2.
The structure collapsed inside the plant near Vidal Street South, triggering emergency sirens a 8:15 p.m.
A Chemical Valley Emergency Coordinating Organization [CVECO] Code 6 was issued for traffic control about 45 minutes later.
Mayor Mike Bradley says a key takeaway from this week's review, was that Sarnia industries, the city's primary control group, and Community Awareness Emergency Response [CAER] need to better understand each other's roles, needs and expectations during an incident.
"There was a communication issue," said Bradley. "We were told that Imperial Oil did not realize that when a Code 6 is called the primary control group, which consists of the police chief, the fire chief, myself and the CAO, come together and we waited for information. We waited for quite some time to get direct information from the plant."
Bradley said work will be done to correct that.
"These reviews are valuable because they allow us to see what went right and what needs to change, and there are a number of issues, I think, on the communications side. There were other suggestions like that automatically on a Code 6, when the primary control group's been assembled and there's going to be a need to block traffic, that an ambulance should respond to which ever plant it is. So they're there, instead of being called if needed."
City and county representatives, officials from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, emergency responders and officials from Imperial took part in the incident review.
Bradley thinks the CAER organization, CVECO response organization and the primary control group should be reviewed now.
"My own sense in the community, over the last number of years, is that the education component, the awareness of what happens during an emergency is slipping with the public. Because we have a lot of people that come in and out of this community, they need to know exactly what to do in an emergency, who to listen to and what advice will be coming their way."
Sarnia police dispatchers were commended for taking proactive steps to collect information and alert emergency responders within minutes of the tower collapse, and first responders were recognized for their quick and efficient response that prevented the situation from escalating.
