You have just been notified of a hazardous material emergency in your town.
You are concerned about your family.
Your home.
Yourself.

What Should You Do?




Protective Actions | Tune In... | Evacuate or Shelter-In-Place? | Shelter-In-Place | Evacuation




Protective Actions

During a hazardous material emergency, Delaware County officials, police, emergency response, medical personnel, and community officials will help to ensure your safety.



Tune In...

For accurate information and instructions, tune in to the following media outlets:

  • KYW (1060 AM)
  • a local news broadcast
  • a local cable station for the Emergency Alerting System


Evacuate or Shelter-In-Place?

For an area threatened by a hazardous material release, emergency personnel will instruct the community to either evacuate the area or remain indoors - "Shelter-In-Place."

As a precautionary action, an evacuation will allow residents to travel away from danger. In the majority of hazardous material emergencies, it is best to Shelter-In-Place.



Shelter-In-Place

Remain indoors until given official notice.

Plan Ahead! Residents should already have access to a battery operated radio, a flashlight, and fresh batteries.

A sudden emergency involving chemicals, or hazardous materials, may not allow time to evacuate. A sudden emergency will force emergency officials to ask you to take immediate action to protect yourselves and your families. They will ask you to Sheltering-in-Place, which means protecting yourself where you are and remaining in place until given further instructions or emergency officials give the all clear. If you are asked to shelter-in-place, do the following:

  • Remain calm.
  • Go inside if you are outdoors.
  • Do not call 911 unless you are reporting an immediate life-threatening situation.
  • Children in schools or day care centers will take shelter where they are located and will stay indoors.
  • Close all windows and doors. Tape cracks for extra protection.
  • Close all vents on cooling, heating or ventilating systems.
  • Cover cracks under doors with damp towels.
  • If you have a fireplace, put out the fire and close the damper.
  • Move to an interior room or hallway with no windows or doors to the outside.
  • Keep pets indoors.
  • Listen carefully to a portable radio for instructions from emergency officials.
  • If you are in a car, close windows and vents.
  • Don't drive through smoke or clouds at the scene.
  • Don't come out unless told to do so by radio, TV, news, or emergency officials.

    • Emergency Kit

    1. Bottled Water
    2. Emergency Food/non-electric can opener
    3. Portable Radio
    4. Flashlight
    5. Batteries
    6. Duct Tape
    7. Scissors
    8. Plastic for Windows (precut)
    9. Essential medicines, First Aid Kit
    10. Games for Children
    11. Baby Wipes
    12. Blankets, coats, etc.


    Evacuation

    In an emergency situation emergency officials may ask you to evacuate to protect yourselves and your families. Evacuating means leaving the area that is affected by the potential hazard. Sometimes a chemical accident, such as transportation accident on the highway or railroad, could force people from their homes for health and safety reasons. If you are asked to evacuate, do the following:

    • Remain calm.
    • Listen carefully to the instructions and be sure you are being asked to evacuated.
    • If told to evacuate, do so!
    • Do not use the phone except to dial 911 in a life-threatening situation.
    • Secure your home as you would for a three-day trip.
    • DO NOT go to your children's school. If they are in the evacuation area they will be taken care of. They will probably be gone by the time you get there.
    • Close and lock windows and doors.
    • Turn off all fans, heating and cooling units.
    • Bring pets indoors and leave food and water for them. Remember, pets ARE NOT allowed in emergency shelters!
    • Keep vehicle windows and vents closed while evacuating.
    • Follow instructions of emergency personnel along evacuation routes.
    • Stay tuned to radio and television for further instructions from emergency officials.

    Develop a Family Communications Plan

    Since we never know when an emergency will occur the chances are family members may be in separate locations during the emergency, so it would be wise to develop a communications plan for keeping in contact. Ask an out of the area or out of state relative or friend to act as the Family contact. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address and phone number of the contact person.

    Secure your home as you would for a three-day trip.

    Items to Bring:

    • Appropriate clothing
    • Sleeping bags or blankets
    • Prescription drugs
    • Personal care items
    • Baby supplies

    Residents who have special transportation needs should make arrangements with neighbors or inform their local emergency personnel as a means of planning.