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Some toxic chemicals are odorless, so a release can be under way before anyone smells it. FEMA's Ready.gov page on hazardous materials explains what to do before, during and after one.
Hazardous materials include explosives, flammable and combustible substances, poisons and radioactive materials. Chemical agents are poisonous vapors, aerosols, liquids and solids that harm people, animals or plants. Emergencies can arise in the production, storage, transport, use or disposal of such materials, and you are at risk when chemicals are used unsafely or released in harmful amounts where you live, work or play.
Signs of a release include difficulty breathing, eye irritation, loss of coordination, nausea, and burning in the nose, throat and lungs. Many dead insects or birds may also indicate a release.
Before an incident
Many communities have a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) that collects information on local chemicals and plans for accidents, and the public can request those materials from the local emergency management office.
An emergency supply kit. Image from Ready.gov's page.
- Build an emergency supply kit that includes duct tape, scissors and plastic to cover doors, windows and vents.
- Make a family emergency plan.
- Learn how your home's ventilation system works.
- Pick an above-ground shelter room with as few openings as possible.
During an incident
Follow the instructions of local radio and television stations carefully. Instructions depend on the threat and the risk of exposure: sometimes it is safer to shelter inside, sometimes to evacuate.
Image from Ready.gov's page.
| If you are told to... | Do this |
|---|---|
| Evacuate | Leave immediately. To find the nearest public shelter, text SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 (for example, shelter 12345). Work out which areas are affected or where the chemical is coming from, and get away. If it is inside your building, leave without passing through the contaminated area; if you cannot, move as far from it as you can and shelter in place. |
| Stay indoors | Bring pets inside. Go to an interior room, close and lock exterior doors and windows, and close vents, fireplace dampers and as many interior doors as possible. Seal the room with duct tape and plastic sheeting. Turn off air conditioning and ventilation, or set it to 100 percent recirculation so no outside air is drawn in. Seal gaps around doors, windows, air conditioners and bathroom, kitchen, stove and dryer vents with wet towels, plastic sheeting, duct tape, wax paper or aluminum foil. If gas or vapors may have entered, breathe shallowly through a cloth. Do not eat or drink anything that may be contaminated. |
| Be outside | Decide the fastest way to clean air and move upwind of the source at once. In a car, keep windows and vents closed and turn off the air conditioner and heater. Shelter in the nearest building. |
After an incident
Stay inside a shelter until authorities say it is safe, even to help others. If you evacuated, go home only when authorities say it is safe.
If you have been exposed to a chemical agent and medical help is not immediately available, the best action is to decontaminate yourself and, if possible, help others do the same.
Image from Ready.gov's page.
- Remove all clothing and anything else in contact with your body. Cut off clothing normally pulled over the head, to avoid contact with eyes, nose and mouth.
- Seal contaminated clothing and items in a plastic bag.
- Take out eyeglasses or contact lenses. Put glasses in a pan of household bleach to decontaminate, then rinse and dry.
- Wash your hands with soap and water; anyone helping must wash hands and exposed skin right afterward.
- Flush your eyes with water.
- Gently wash face and hair with soap and water, then rinse thoroughly.
As soon as it is safe, go to a medical facility for screening and treatment.
Sources
- Federal Emergency Management Agency, Ready.gov, "Chemicals and Hazardous Materials Incidents" (last updated 04/24/2023), https://www.ready.gov/hazmat; rewritten in hubnx's own words.
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