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In Case of Emergency
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 |
Information in Video Format
| Residents Awareness
and Emergency Preparedness Guide (pdf) (get
adobe PDF)
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
- Bottled Water
- Emergency Food/non-electric can opener
- Portable Radio
- Flashlight
- Batteries
- Duct Tape
- Scissors
- Plastic for Windows (precut)
- Essential medicines, First Aid Kit
- Games for Children
- Baby Wipes
- 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.
Information
In Video Format
The LEPC has created 3 videos for viewing from your
computer which explain preparation, shelter in place, and evacuation
procedures.
-
Are You
Prepared Video
Shelter
in Place Video
Evacuation Video
Downloadable Guide
The
Residents Awareness and
Emergency Preparedness Guide is available for download here. (pdf)
(
get
adobe PDF)
Contact us for more info

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