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• The hazardous material generators located in or near <br /> the community; and <br /> • The resources in terms of people and property are in an <br /> area of possible impact from a hazardous materials <br /> release. <br /> Overall, Indian River County has a moderate vulnerability to <br /> impacts from hazardous materials releases. There are <br /> relatively few major generators within the County, and those <br /> that do exist are generally away from major population centers. <br /> An area of high vulnerability for hazardous materials accidents <br /> is the City of Vero Beach, due to the transportation network <br /> (both highway and rail) that passes through the area. <br /> Risk Assessment. Historic Events. Due to the low probability <br /> of occurrence, this hazard will not be fully profiled. <br /> d. Transportation System Accidents—Hazard Identification. <br /> Florida has a large transportation network consisting of major <br /> highways, airports, marine ports, and passenger railroads. <br /> The heavily populated areas of Indian River County are <br /> particularly vulnerable to serious accidents, which are capable <br /> of producing mass casualties. With the linear configuration of <br /> several major highways in Indian River County, such as <br /> interstate highways and the Florida Turnpike, major <br /> transportation accidents could occur in a relatively rural area, <br /> severely stressing the capabilities of local resources to <br /> respond effectively. Installing cameras on interstate highways <br /> and major transportation routes can assist in monitoring <br /> movement throughout the County, as well as provide for <br /> quicker response to traffic system accidents as well. A <br /> notorious example is the crash in the Everglades of ValuJet <br /> Flight 597 on 11 May 1996, which resulted in 109 fatalities and <br /> cost millions of dollars, severely taxing the financial and public <br /> safety resources of Dade County (FDCA, 2001). Similarly, a <br /> major transportation accident could involve a large number of <br /> tourists and visitors from other countries, given Florida's <br /> popularity as a vacation destination, further complicating the <br /> emergency response to such an event. In the past, wildland <br /> fires in Florida have forced the closing of interstate highways, <br /> creating tremendous impacts on the transportation systems. <br /> As a major industrial nation, the U.S. produces, distributes, <br /> Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 66 <br />