Chemical Disaster Safety

Chemical Disaster Checklist
In the Event of a chemical emergency it is important to act quickly and follow the instructions of your local emergency coordinators such as law enforcement personnel, fire departments, or local elected leaders. Every situation can be different, so local emergency coordinators might have special instructions for you to follow. In general, do the following:
• Go inside as quickly as possible. Bring any outdoor pets indoors.
• If there is time, shut and lock all outside doors and windows. Locking them may pull the door or
window tighter and make a better seal against the chemical. Turn off the air conditioner or heater.
Turn off all fans, too. Close the fireplace damper and any other place that air can come in from
outside.
• Go in the shelter-in-place room and shut the door.
• Turn on the radio. Keep a telephone close at hand, but don’t use it unless there is a serious
emergency.
• Sink and toilet drain traps should have water in them (you can use the sink and toilet as you
normally would). If it is necessary to drink water, drink stored water, not water from the tap.
• Tape plastic over any windows in the room. Use duct tape around the windows and doors and
make an unbroken seal. Use the tape over any vents into the room and seal any electrical outlets
or other openings.
• If you are away from your shelter-in-place location when a chemical event occurs, follow the
instructions of emergency coordinators to find the nearest shelter. If your children are at school,
they will be sheltered there. Unless you are instructed to do so, do not try to get to the school to
bring your children home. Transporting them from the school will put them, and you, at increased
risk.
• Listen to the radio for an announcement indicating that it is safe to leave the shelter.
• When you leave the shelter, follow instructions from local emergency coordinators to avoid any
contaminants outside. After you come out of the shelter, emergency coordinators may have
additional instructions on how to make the rest of the building safe again.
How you can get more information about sheltering in place
You can contact one of the following:
- State and local health departments
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Public Response Hotline (CDC)
Click Here For Chemical Disaster Preparedness Checklist
Checklist available for download provided by:
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