WHAT TO DO DURING A CHEMICAL EMERGENCY?
The East Harris County Manufacturers Association member companies are responsible for notifying local emergency officials about any chemical release that may affect the community. Local emergency management officials are responsible for warning nearby homes, schools and businesses and recommending appropriate protective actions. You are responsible for following those instructions to protect yourself and your family.
Local officials may recommend that you "shelter in place" until the chemical release is stopped and winds have dissipated any vapors. Here's how to Shelter In Place:
1. GO INSIDE IMMEDIATELY
Take yourself and anyone near you inside an enclosed structure, whether it's a house, business, garage, or vehicle. If you know of an invalid or unattended child in your neighborhood, call them and tell them to remain indoors. Keep any pets inside also.
Close all doors, windows, and other sources of outside air. Turn off air conditioning or heating systems, and close the fireplace damper to keep chemical vapors from entering. Ceiling fans or rotary fans inside the building can be safely used to keep cool. Gather a portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
Move into an interior room, preferably a room with no windows. From the inside of that room, cover any outside doors, windows, ceiling vents, and other sources of outside air with plastic sheeting and masking tape. Place a wet towel or sheet along the bottom of the door sill. If you smell any unusual odor or have trouble breathing, you should sit down, cover your nose and mouth with a damp washcloth, then take slow, shallow breaths and try to stay calm.
2. TURN ON YOUR RADIO
Several areas have installed local emergency management radio stations, such as:
- Baytown: AM 1610
- Channelview: AM 1620
- Deer Park: AM 530
- La Porte: AM 830
- Pearland: AM 670
During non-emergency periods, these radio stations air community and school district news, and re-broadcast reports from the National Weather Service. During a chemical release, these stations will continuously repeat instructions about how to Shelter In Place and provide more information as it's available. Because these low-power AM stations operate at only 10 watts, you may need a more powerful radio or outside antenna to hear these broadcasts.
If you can't hear the local emergency management station in your area, tune your AM radio to KTRH AM 740 instead. KTRH is the official Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for the Houston area and can re-broadcast emergency messages transmitted by local authorities.
3. STAY OFF THE TELEPHONE
Local officials may try to telephone your home or business using their city's computerized telephone notification system. Do not call police, fire, or 9-1-1 unless you are reporting a police, fire or medical emergency at your location. Overloaded telephone circuits may keep actual emergency calls from getting through.
SHOULD I TRY TO EVACUATE?
Evacuation may be an appropriate precaution during a flood or hurricane, but you should NOT attempt an evacuation during a chemical emergency unless specifically ordered by city officials. Leaving your home or business may expose you to more chemical vapors, especially if you travel toward the leak or through the toxic cloud as it drifts downwind.
WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND SHELTER?
Several studies, including a study conducted by the City of Deer Park LEPC, indicate that taking shelter is the best response to a chemical release. Even a poorly sealed building or vehicle provides some protection against chemical vapors. If you are inside a vehicle, close your vehicle's doors and windows, and turn off the vehicle's air conditioning and ventilation system. Turn on your car radio to KTRH-AM 740 for more information.
If you can't get inside, move in a crosswind direction, so the wind is blowing from left to right, or right to left, but NOT directly into your face or from behind you. You can see what direction the wind is blowing by observing nearby trees, flags, or clouds in the sky.
WHAT IF MY CHILDREN ARE IN SCHOOL?
Local school districts have trained their school principals and teachers how to protect your children and will shelter in place until the emergency is over.
Please do NOT call the school and tie up telephone lines needed by school staff to communicate with district officials. If you go to the school, you are putting yourself and all the other children in danger if school officials open the doors to let you remove your children from their safe shelter. In fact, you and your children could be overcome by vapors while traveling to or from the school. Instead, listen to KTRH-AM 740 for parent information from school officials.
HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE EMERGENCY IS OVER?
Stay inside, sheltered in place, until you hear the "All Clear" message from local officials over your city's siren system, telephone notification system, or on the local emergency management radio station or KTRH-AM 740.
After the "All Clear" signal has been given, open all doors and windows, turn on your air conditioning or heating system, then go outside to let the building "air out" for 15-30 minutes before you re-enter.
