Louisville seeks proposals for new alert system in wake of Rubbertown plant blast

Apr. 3, 2011

Written by
Jessie Halladay
jhalladay@courier-
journal.com

Louisville Metro Government has officially requested proposals seeking companies that can provide an alert system to keep citizens informed during emergencies.

The request was issued on Friday after Mayor Greg Fischer announced last week that the city needs a new system that can alert residents during critical incidents, such as the explosion at Rubbertown's Carbide Industries plant on March 21. Nearby residents complained they were not given enough timely information about what was happening.

“We are moving forward quickly and efficiently to implement the best system possible to keep our citizens informed 24/7,” Fischer said in a news release on Friday.

In the request for proposals, the city asks for a system that could make information available through landline phones and cellphones, as well as text messages and email. The system also should be able to reach residents who speak other languages, are blind or hearing-impaired.

Vendor proposals should be submitted to the city by April 29. A committee will review them and negotiate a contract with the selected company by July 1.

Fischer said he wants to have technology updates made at MetroSafe Communications that would create an Emergency Contact and Notification System, which would be able to alert residents citywide or in a specific neighborhood.

The explosion did not pose a health risk to residents, so no warning sirens were sounded, but some residents complained that smoke and the noise of the explosion caused concern that warranted some explanation during the event.

A phone line set up in 2004 by city officials and Rubbertown companies for nearby residents to call for information, known as RCALL, was not updated by Carbide Industries until at least 90 minutes after the explosion, which occurred in the company's furnace.

Carbide Industries took responsibility because the Rubbertown companies are responsible for the updates. But Fischer announced the city would take over that responsibility until a new system is put in place.

Residents' concerns were reiterated the night of March 28 when Fischer and public safety officials attended a meeting in Rubbertown to discuss the explosion and its aftermath.

Investigators still are trying to determine what caused the explosion, which killed two workers, Jorge “Louie” Medina and Steven Nichols. Maj. Henry Ott, lead arson investigator for the city, said arson detectives cleared the scene on Wednesday after collecting debris and other information.

Investigators have obtained data from instruments at the plant that will be examined, and they are continuing to interview people there.

Ott said his team worked with investigators from the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board and plant employees, to get information.

It could be months before a final determination of what caused the explosion is made, Ott said.

Reporter Jessie Halladay can be reached at (502) 582-4081.