Mason Discusses Emergency Response at Wichita ASSE Monthly Meeting
iSi's CEO Gary Mason presented Emergency Response Lessons: Chemical Fire, Neodesha, Kansas at the monthly meeting of the Wichita Chapter American Societ...
Gary Mason, iSi’s CEO, presented “Emergency Response Lessons: Chemical Fire, Neodesha, Kansas” at the monthly meeting of the Wichita Chapter American Society for Safety Engineering (ASSE). Gary discussed the emergency response actions for a chemical fire which broke out right before Thanksgiving 2016 in Neodesha, Kansas.
⚡ TL;DR: A 2016 chemical fire in Neodesha, Kansas tested emergency response coordination between state (KDHE) and federal agencies. Gary Mason led environmental impact management and now shares practical lessons with safety professionals at ASSE meetings—critical knowledge for any facility handling hazardous chemicals.
Gary represented KDHE during the response and was responsible for managing the environmental impacts both during the fire and on nearby public water supplies. He provided insights into the response needs both during and after the fire, the planning and coordination involved, how state and federal governments work together during times of emergency response, and lessons learned from this event which attendees could take back to their own facilities.
⚠️ The Pain: Without a well-coordinated emergency response plan, chemical fires can cascade into dual crises—facility damage plus environmental contamination of critical water supplies. The 2016 Neodesha incident showed that reactive planning fails when state, federal, and local responders lack pre-established coordination protocols.
The Wichita ASSE meets at iSi Environmental’s offices the first Monday of each month. The cost to attend is $10 and is open to all safety and environmental professionals. Register online at http://wichita.asse.org. If you’re interested in having Gary present this program at your conference or seminar, contact us here.
Does your facility have a documented emergency response plan that coordinates with local responders, protects water supplies, and addresses both immediate and environmental impacts? Most facilities we audit find gaps in their coordination protocols with state and federal agencies. This is where an audit often prevents the crisis—not by luck, but by design. iSi Environmental works with facilities to stress-test their emergency response plans and ensure they stand up to real-world scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
💰 Emergency response consulting typically ranges from $1,500–$5,000 for a comprehensive plan audit and coordination walkthrough, depending on facility complexity and the number of hazardous chemicals involved.
Q: What is an emergency response plan and why does every facility need one?
An emergency response plan is a documented set of procedures for responding to chemical spills, fires, explosions, or other hazardous incidents at your facility. OSHA and EPA require facilities handling hazardous chemicals to have written emergency response plans that coordinate with local emergency responders and address environmental impacts to public water supplies and surrounding communities.
Q: What lessons did the Neodesha, Kansas chemical fire teach about emergency preparedness?
The 2016 Neodesha chemical fire demonstrated the importance of coordinating emergency response between state environmental agencies (KDHE), federal responders, and local emergency services; protecting public water supplies during industrial disasters; and planning for both immediate fire suppression needs and long-term environmental remediation. Facilities should incorporate these lessons into their emergency response procedures.
Q: How do state and federal agencies coordinate during emergency response to chemical incidents?
During chemical emergencies, state environmental agencies like KDHE work with EPA and OSHA to manage environmental impacts, protect water supplies, and ensure worker safety. This coordination requires pre-planning, inter-agency communication protocols, and facility cooperation with emergency responders to minimize public health and environmental damage.
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