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#3,901 ·
Please critique this message to the city council:

Last fall prior to the Shakeout Drill, I asked our State Emergency Management about seismic evaluation of a 1,000-gallon propane tank surrounded by barriers adjacent to the 6-foot concrete wall standing on top of the ground. They did not offer any safety procedures. All of these issues are code violations. The Backus Administration's position is they all met existing standards when they were installed. Unfortunately, the Backus Administration has no credibility. All the codes were adopted decades prior to the first violation in 2010.

Everyone says nothing like this would be allowed where they live. I am sure they are correct. They ask if we have a building department to enforce codes. We do, but they are the problem. They say to go to the mayor and city council. Unfortunately, they are a bigger problem. Hopefully, Auburn is the only city stupid enough to accommodate concrete walls without an embedded foundation and barriers creating propane hazards risking whole neighborhoods.

The 1983 Buffalo, New York propane explosion resulted in 7 fatalities and 150 injuries. It completely leveled a four-story building and demolished many buildings on four different blocks. It seriously damaged buildings that were over half a mile away. The cause was the valve breaking off of a 125-gallon tank. These damages are significantly greater than my 1,000-gallon damage area based on NOAA first responder safety warnings. We can expect many valves to break off as tanks roll around Auburn during the Big One. The Christmas morning bombing at Nashville was propane contained in a small motorhome.

The State Hazard Mitigation Officer said unfortunately the State cannot help with this situation. The enforcement of these codes needs to happen at the city level. The only advice provided is to continue to raise awareness. The first responders and CERT volunteers to whom this would be a serious hazard. Getting more community voices behind an issue that could severely impact them is always a good option for helping to bring about safety-related changes. Attorneys say notification will be an advantage for survivors.
 
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#3,902 · (Edited by Moderator)
Critique:

I would change "No Credibility" to: questionable credibility. Or, provide detail as to why they have no cred - in legal terms.

And change, "the only city (stupid enough)" to something else more tactful - lacking foresight, or something.

In my opinion, you should keep personal views out of the correspondence.

I would get a petition going with signatures from all (or most) residents of that neighborhood.

I would also add something to the effect of: better safe than sorry.

You might provide some explanation as to your expertise in this matter - if they are not already aware.

Otherwise looks good.

You asked, so there it is.
 
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#3,903 ·
I agree with Brian, additionally I've learned to avoid terms like: everyone, always, never and those that define a situation by no less than 100% as from a legal standpoint it only takes 1 smart person in a million stupit people to nullify "everyone in that group is stupid". I think a petition is a great idea, we may have to do just that to get the sheriff to patrol our neighborhood for speeders.

You could also get the news involved, I realize that area doesn't really frown on property destruction but such destruction needs to be performed by the right people to be promoted, I don't think propane is on the list.
 
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#3,904 · (Edited by Moderator)
Topa, Yeti - getting the News involved is WAY excellent idea.

Expanding on what Yeti wrote, if your tone is suggestive at all that those you are dealing with are incompetant, or lax in their duties, anything negative like that, they are going to ignore you. It is ok if you think that, but better to address them as competant people who Will get the job done.

Polite, professional, precise.

As to a petition, actually, you just need signatures, period, they dont even have to live in that neighborhood - just people who are backing you up, think you are working for the greater good. It aint like the City Council is gonna be checking up on all those people.

And the last sentence is KILLER, definitely keep that.
 
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#3,905 ·
Top Max- my revised version

Prior to the Shakeout Drill in 2020, I made an inquiry to the Washington State Emergency Management about the seismic evaluation of a 1,000-gallon propane tank that is surrounded by barriers adjacent to the 6-foot concrete wall. ( you need to state the inquiry's that you made )
They did not offer any safety procedures. All of these issues ( describe some of the issues and give the reader some of the concerns that you have over the code violations. ) The Backus Administration's
(Backus administration? I could not find it on Google)
The position is they all met existing standards when they were installed. Unfortunately, all the codes were adopted decades prior to the first violation in 2010.
People have told me that nothing like this would be allowed where they live. They ask if ( state the city that you are referring to) have a building department to enforce codes. We do and we are referred to the Mayor and city council in which I cannot get a satisfactory response to dangerous safety concerns. They are avoiding potential hazardous conditions, which is foreseeable by allowing concrete walls without an embedded foundation and barriers creating propane hazards risking whole neighborhoods.
An example of the hazard- The 1983 Buffalo, New York propane explosion resulted in 7 fatalities and 150 injuries. It completely leveled a four-story building and demolished many buildings on four different blocks. It seriously damaged buildings that were over half a mile away. The cause was the valve breaking off of a 125-gallon tank. These damages are significantly greater than my 1,000-gallon damage area based on NOAA first responder safety warnings. We can expect many valves to break off as tanks roll around Auburn during a seismic disruption.
The State Hazard Mitigation Officer said unfortunately the State cannot help with this situation. The enforcement of these codes needs to happen at the city level. The only advice provided is to continue to raise awareness. The first responders and CERT volunteers to whom this would be a serious hazard. Getting more community voices behind an issue that could severely impact them is always a good option for helping to bring about safety-related changes.
The potential threat is foreseeable and preventable and I ask that you reach out and request that immediate safety codes be updated and implemented.

Best of success to you and thx for trying to make society a safer place to live.
 
#3,906 ·
TopaMax, yes on petition, yes on local investigative journalist. Question have you contacted the owner of the propane tank about the danger? Do you know who is insuring the property? Contacting the insurance agent or company might get something done.
 
#3,907 · (Edited by Moderator)
Much better! That reads as courteous and polite. Just one suggestion, break up that big block of text in the center into smaller segments/paragraphs - easier to read. For instance, new para at: "An example of the hazard…...."

Still think you should add something like: I am so and so and I have 40 yrs experience in such and such business….. This would give you some tech cred and not allow them to assume you are just a neighbor complaining or something.

Top Max- my revised version

Prior to the Shakeout Drill in 2020, I made an inquiry to the Washington State Emergency Management about the seismic evaluation of a 1,000-gallon propane tank that is surrounded by barriers adjacent to the 6-foot concrete wall. ( you need to state the inquiry's that you made )
They did not offer any safety procedures. All of these issues ( describe some of the issues and give the reader some of the concerns that you have over the code violations. ) The Backus Administration's
(Backus administration? I could not find it on Google)
The position is they all met existing standards when they were installed. Unfortunately, all the codes were adopted decades prior to the first violation in 2010.
People have told me that nothing like this would be allowed where they live. They ask if ( state the city that you are referring to) have a building department to enforce codes. We do and we are referred to the Mayor and city council in which I cannot get a satisfactory response to dangerous safety concerns. They are avoiding potential hazardous conditions, which is foreseeable by allowing concrete walls without an embedded foundation and barriers creating propane hazards risking whole neighborhoods.
An example of the hazard- The 1983 Buffalo, New York propane explosion resulted in 7 fatalities and 150 injuries. It completely leveled a four-story building and demolished many buildings on four different blocks. It seriously damaged buildings that were over half a mile away. The cause was the valve breaking off of a 125-gallon tank. These damages are significantly greater than my 1,000-gallon damage area based on NOAA first responder safety warnings. We can expect many valves to break off as tanks roll around Auburn during a seismic disruption.
The State Hazard Mitigation Officer said unfortunately the State cannot help with this situation. The enforcement of these codes needs to happen at the city level. The only advice provided is to continue to raise awareness. The first responders and CERT volunteers to whom this would be a serious hazard. Getting more community voices behind an issue that could severely impact them is always a good option for helping to bring about safety-related changes.
The potential threat is foreseeable and preventable and I ask that you reach out and request that immediate safety codes be updated and implemented.

Best of success to you and thx for trying to make society a safer place to live.

- Desert_Woodworker
Click to expand...
 
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#3,916 ·
Pottz, thanks,

I am not done with the finish. Needs another coat of two of GF "I.e. crap", but I like it so far.

- Peteybadboy
Click to expand...
petey why do you keep using "crap" havn't you heard,it's crap!
 
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