What to do if you are notified of a chemical emergency

• Stay Calm
• If you are outdoors in the vicinity of a chemical incident, leave the immediate area, moving at least two miles away from the site of the release.
• If you are in your residence, turn on your radio to an Emergency Alerting System (EAS) station for information and directions.
• Stay off the telephone. The lines may be needed for official business.
• Emergency Activation Radio Stations

• WMAL 0630 AM
• WTOP 1500 AM & 103.5 FM
• WWRC 1260 AM
• WKYS 93.9 FM

Protective Actions
EAS instructions will tell you the protective action(s) to be taken. The protective action could be Shelter-in-Place, Prepare-to-Evacuate, or Evacuate

Depending on the circumstances of the emergency, any of the three protective actions, or a combination, may be appropriate.

Shelter-in-Place
Shelter-in-Place is one way to protect yourself. If you are told to Shelter-in-Place, do the following:

1. Immediately go inside. Bring pets inside also.
2. Close and lock all windows and doors, a better seal is made. Stay calm. Stay off the telephone.
3. Turn off heating and cooling systems.
4. Go to an interior room with no or few windows. Seal all openings into the room with plastic sheeting and tape.
5. Turn on a radio to a local EAS station for information and directions. Stay tuned to the station until you are given instructions that the emergency is over.
6. If told to protect breathing, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth, if possible.
7. After the emergency is over, you will be instructed to air out your house.

Prepare to Evacuate
You may be told to Prepare-to-Evacuate. When informed of this, you should do the following:

1. Stay calm. Stay off the telephone.
2. Turn on your radio or television to the local EAS station for emergency instructions.
3. Pack only what you need. Gather critical medicines, appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, portable radio, flashlight, and spare batteries, check book, credit cards, and other essential items.
4. Lock your house.
5. If you have children in school, they will be taken to a reception center for the school. You may pick them up after the all-clear.
6. PETS ARE NOT PERMITTED IN SHELTERS. Special pet shelter accommodations will be made available.
7. You may return home as soon as the emergency is declared over, and have been instructed to return.