Threats & Emergencies
Hazmat Incidents
Hazmat Home • Responding
to Hazmat Incidents
Responding to Hazmat Incidents
During a hazardous materials incident:
- If you witness (or smell) a hazardous materials release, call
911.
- If you hear a warning siren, listen to the local radio or television station
for further information.
- Stay away from the incident site to minimize the risk of contamination.
- If you are caught outside during an incident, try to stay upstream, uphill
and upwind. Gases and mists are generally heavier than air and hazardous
materials can quickly be transported by water and wind. In general, try
to go at least one-half mile (10 city blocks) from the danger area. However,
for many incidents you will need to go much farther.
- If you are in a motor vehicle, stop and find shelter in a permanent building
if possible. If you must remain in your vehicle, keep the windows and vents
closed and shut off the air conditioner and heater.
- If asked to evacuate, do so immediately. If authorities indicate there
is enough time, close all windows, shut vents and turn off heating and air
conditioning fans to minimize contamination.
- If you are told to stay indoors:
- Follow all instructions given by emergency authorities.
- Get all employees inside as quickly as possible.
- Close and lock all exterior doors and window. Close vents and as many
interior doors as possible.
- Turn off air conditioners and ventilation systems. In large buildings,
set all ventilation systems to 100% recirculation so that no outside air
is drawn into the building. If this is not possible, ventilation systems
should be turned off.
- Go into your pre-selected shelter room (an above ground room with the
fewest openings to the outside). Ten square feet of floor space per person
will provide sufficient air to prevent carbon dioxide buildup for up to
five hours.If you see large amounts of debris in the air, or if local
authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to seal the
room.
- Take a battery-powered radio, water, a flashlight, plastic sheeting,
duct tape and scissors into the shelter room.
- Close doors and windows in the room and seal the room using the
plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- Tape around the sides, bottom and top of the door.
- Cover each window and vent in the room with a single piece of plastic
sheeting, taping all around the edges of the sheeting to provide a
continuous seal.
- If there are any cracks or holes in the room, such as those around
pipes entering a bathroom, seal them with duct tape.
- Remain in the room, listening to a local radio or television station
until you hear that authorities advise you to leave your shelter; it might
only be effective for 2-3 hours due to contaminants seeping into the shelter.Local
officials are unlikely to recommend that you stay in a sealed room for
more than 2-3 hours because the effectiveness of such sheltering diminishes
with time as the contaminated outside air gradually seeps into the shelter
and the concentration of life-supporting oxygen in the air inside the
shelter decreases.
After a hazardous materials incident:
- When authorities advise people in your area to leave their shelters, open
all doors and windows and turn on the air conditioning and ventilation systems.
These measures will flush out any chemicals that infiltrated the building.
- Be aware that a person or item that has been exposed to a hazardous chemical
might be contaminated and could contaminate other people or items. Anyone
who comes into contact or is exposed to hazardous chemicals should:
- Follow decontamination instructions from local authorities. Depending
on the chemical, they might be advised to take a thorough shower, or
they might be advised to stay away from water and follow another procedure.
Get medical treatment for unusual symptoms as soon as possible.
- If medical help is not immediately available and you think you might
be contaminated, remove all of your clothing and shower thoroughly (unless
local authorities advise otherwise). Change into fresh, loose clothing
and get medical help as soon as possible.
- Place exposed clothing and shoes in tightly sealed containers. Call
local authorities to find out about proper disposal.
- Advise everyone who comes into contact with you that you might have
been exposed to a toxic substance.