My latest series of caches regarding disasters brings “my
work home with me”. Over the past dozen or so years I have
learned more than I could ever want too about natural and
“man-made” Disasters. So, this little puzzle series
will enlighten you as well. If nothing else, hopefully this series
of caches will remind you that a disaster can strike at any time
and help you better prepare yourself for when such a time presents
itself.
CBRNE is an initialism for chemical, biological, radiological,
nuclear, and explosives. It is commonly used worldwide to refer to
incidents or weapons in which any of these hazards have presented
themselves. The term CBRNE is a replacement for the cold war term
NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical), which had replaced the
term ABC (atomic, biological, and chemical) that was used in the
fifties.
A CBRNE incident differs from a hazardous material incident in
both effect scope and in intent. CBRNE incidents are responded to
under the assumption that they are deliberate, malicious acts with
the intention to kill, sicken, and/or disrupt society. Evidence
preservation and perpetrator apprehension are of greater concern
with CBRNE incidents than with HazMat incidents.
CBRNE weapons/agents are often referred to as weapons of mass
destruction (WMD). However, this is not entirely correct. Although
CBRNE agents often cause mass destruction, this is not necessarily
the case. Terrorist use of CBRNE agents may cause a limited number
of casualties, but a large terrorizing and disruption of society.
Terrorist use of CBRNE agents, intended to cause terror instead of
mass casualties, is therefore often referred to as weapons of mass
disruption.
N 38° 38.ABC
A = The Bhopal disaster was one of the
world's worst industrial chemical catastrophes. It occurred on the
night of December 2–3, 198(A) at the Union Carbide
India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh,
India. A leak of methyl isocyanate gas and other chemicals from the
plant resulted in the exposure of hundreds of thousands of people.
Estimates vary on the death toll. The official immediate death toll
was 2,259 and the government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a
total of 3,787 deaths related to the gas release.
B = Smallpox is believed to have emerged in
human populations about 10,000 BC. The disease killed an estimated
400,000 Europeans per year during the closing years of the 18th
century (including five reigning monarchs), and was responsible for
a third of all blindness. Of all those infected, 20–60% and
over 80% of infected children died from the disease. Smallpox was
responsible for an estimated 300–500 million deaths during
the 20th century. As recently as 1967, the World Health
Organization (WHO) estimated that 15 million people contracted the
disease and that two million died in that year. After vaccination
campaigns throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the WHO certified
the eradication of smallpox in 197(B).
C = The PEPCON disaster was an industrial
disaster that occurred in Henderson, Nevada on May 4, 1988 at the
Pacific Engineering Production Company of Nevada (PEPCON) plant.
The chemical fire and subsequent explosions claimed two lives,
injured (C)72 people, and caused an estimated $100 million
of damage. A large portion of the Las Vegas metropolitan area 10
miles away was affected and several agencies activated emergency
disaster plans.
Checksum ABC = 16
W 121° 03.DEF
D = The Goiânia accident was a radioactive
contamination accident that occurred on (D)/13/1987, at
Goiânia, in the Brazilian State of Goiás. Considered one of the
worst nuclear disasters in history, it took place after an old
radiotherapy source was stolen from an abandoned hospital site in
the city. It was subsequently handled by many people, resulting in
four deaths and radioactive contamination of 245 other people, 20
of who showed signs of radiation sickness and required
treatment.
E = The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear
accident that occurred on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear
Power Plant in Ukraine. An explosion and fire released large
quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere, which
spread over much of Western USSR and Europe. It is considered the
worst nuclear power plant accident in history, and is one of only
two classified as a level (E) event on the International
Nuclear Event Scale. The battle to contain the contamination and
avert a greater catastrophe ultimately involved over 500,000
workers and cost an estimated 18 billion rubles, crippling the
Soviet economy.
F = The first recognized outbreak of
Legionellosis or “Legionnaires' disease” occurred on
July 27, 1976 at the Bellevue Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where members of the American Legion had gathered for
the American Bicentennial. Within two days of the event’s
start, veterans began falling ill with a then-unidentified
pneumonia. They were tachypneic and complained of chest pain. As
many as 221 people were given medical treatment, and (F)4
deaths occurred due to this outbreak.
Checksum DEF = 19
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
Congrats to gplamy for the
FTF.
As always Enjoy!