Brazosport Industrial CAER

In 1985, one of the first Industrial CAER (Community Awareness and Emergency Response) programs in the nation was started in the Brazosport area by a few of the local petrochemical companies - providing a vital link between the industry and the community. Since then, CAER has grown into a 19-member organization assuring emergency preparedness and fostering better communications with residents.

The mission of CAER is to coordinate emergency preparedness and response procedures between member companies and promote emergency planning in the community. The vision is that coordinated preparedness and response to emergency situations by CAER member companies, local agencies, and the community functions so well that adverse effects are minimized, resulting in increased community confidence.

As part of alerting the community to chemical emergencies in the area, CAER has surrounded the chemical complexes with 14 strategically-placed sirens, provided a 24-hour CAER line (238-CAER) to share information, and has access to activate the Community Alert Network, which can reach residents in a potentially affected area by telephone.

CAER's proactive outreach includes a speaker's bureau, advertisements in the local paper and movie theater, and dialogue with local schools, daycares, and critical stakeholders.

Dow Security, a part of Dow's Environment, Health & Safety Program, also plays an important role in the emergency response of the local petrochemical industry. While it makes Texas Operations a secure site through visible presence at the gates into the facilities, river patrols and rovers in and around the plants, Dow security is also the home of CAER central. That includes answering the CAER line and sending Dow emergency responders to investigate community concerns. EH&S also has a full-time fire department and specialized equipment specifically designed for the needs of the chemical industry to provide emergency response on site and mutual aid to other chemical companies in the area.