Better Warning Sought for Refinery Accidents
City and county officials want a better early-warning system to alert residents about oil refinery accidents like one that occurred last week.
Refinery employees at Equilon waited a half-hour before sounding warning sirens Oct. 14 to alert residents to stay inside after a smoky chemical leak. The county controls the early-warning system, but takes cues from the refineries on the seriousness of the incidents.
The warning system is a mix of computer and radio-controlled equipment to alert the public, regulators and others around the refinery. Equilon officials admitted Friday that the delay in sounding the sirens was a mistake.
More to Read
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.