From industrial chemicals and toxic waste to household detergents and air fresheners, hazardous materials are part of our everyday lives.  Affecting urban, suburban and rural areas, hazardous materials incidents can range from a chemical spill on a highway to groundwater contamination by naturally occurring methane gas.

 

    Hazardous materials are substances which, because of their chemical, physical or biological nature, pose a potential risk to life, health or property if they are released.  Hazards can exist during production, storage, transportation, use or disposal.

    Chemical plants are one source of hazardous materials, but there are many others.  Your local service station stores gasoline and diesel fuel -- hospitals store a range of radioactive and flammable materials, and there are about 30,000 hazardous materials waste sites in the country.

    Federal laws enable local governments and interested citizens to become aware of possible hazardous material incidents and prepare for them.  The Monongalia County Local Emergency Planning Committee was formed to provide an established, coordinated response to protect the public from the harmful effects of an accidental release of toxic or hazardous substance, materials or wastes, at the site of any chemical manufacturer, user, storer, or transporter or any transportation route which may affect people or property within the jurisdictional boundaries of Monongalia County.  The LEPC membership consists of local planners -- emergency responders --  representatives from hospitals, environmental protection, community groups,  industry and members of the community.   For more information please visit http://www/moncolepc.org.

   Visit your LEPC.

 

 

How will I know if something has happened?

Emergency warning procedures include:

• Outdoor warning sirens or horns.

• Emergency Alert System [EAS] - information provided via radio and television.

• Reverse 9-1-1 -- an automated system for sending recorded messages via telephone.

• Announcements over cable television.

• Residential route alerting - messages announced to neighborhoods from vehicles equipped with public address systems.

• Alerts over weather radios placed throughout Monongalia County.

What to do in a hazardous materials incident?

    If you witness a hazardous materials accident, call 9-1-1.

    If you hear a warning signal, listen to local radio or television stations for further information.  Follow instructions carefully.

    Stay away from the incident site to minimize the risk of contamination.

    If you are caught outside during an incident, try to stay upstream, uphill and upwind -- hazardous materials can quickly be transported by water and wind.  In general, try to go at least one-half mile [10 city blocks] from the danger area; for many incidents you will need to go much further.

    If you are in a car, close windows and shut off ventilation.  This will reduce the risk of contamination. 

    If you are asked to evacuate, do so immediately.

• If local officials say there is time, close all windows, shut vents and turn off attic fans to minimize contamination.

    If you are requested to stay indoors rather than evacuate:

• Strictly follow all instructions given by emergency authorities.

• To reduce the possibility of toxic vapors entering your home, seal all entry routes as efficiently as possible.  Close and lock the windows and doors.  Seal gaps under doorways and windows with wet towels and duct tape or similar thick tape.

• Seal any gaps around window air conditioning units, bathroom and kitchen exhaust fan grilles and stove and dryer vents with tape and plastic sheeting, wax paper or aluminum wrap.

• Close all fireplace dampers.

• Close as many internal doors as possible.

• If authorities warn of an outdoor explosion, close all drapes, curtains and shades.  Stay away from windows to prevent injury from breaking glass.

• Turn off all ventilation systems, including furnaces, air conditioners, vents and fans.

• Building superintendents should set all ventilation systems to 100 percent recirculation so that no outside air is drawn into the building.  if this is not possible, ventilation systems should be turned off.

• If you suspect that gas or vapors have entered the building, take shallow breaths through a cloth or towel.

• Remain in protected, interior areas of the building where toxic vapors are reduced, and keep your radio with you.

    Avoid contact with any spilled liquid materials, airborne mist or condensed solid chemical deposit.  Keep your body fully covered and wear gloves, socks and shoes, although these measures may offer minimal protection.

    Do not eat or drink any food or water that may have been contaminated.

    If you need to stay indoors, fill the bathtub [sterilize it first] and large containers with water.  Be prepared to turn off the main water intake valve in case authorities advise you to do so.

What to do after an incident?

    Do not return home until local authorities say it is safe.

    Upon returning home, open windows, vents and turn on fans to provide ventilation.

    A person or item that has been exposed to a hazardous chemical may be contaminated and could contaminate other people or items.  If you have come in contact with or have been exposed to hazardous chemicals, you should:

• Follow decontamination instructions from local authorities.  [Depending on the chemical, you may be advised to take a thorough shower, or you may be advised to stay away from water and follow another procedure.]

• Seek medical treatment for unusual symptoms that may be related to the hazardous materials release.

• If medical help is not immediately available and you think you might be contaminated, remove all of your clothing and shower thoroughly [unless local authorities say the chemical is water reactive and advise you to do otherwise].  Change into fresh, loose, warm clothing and seek medical help as soon as possible.

• Place exposed clothing and shoes in tightly sealed containers without allowing them to contact other materials, and call local authorities to find out about proper disposal.

• Advise everyone who comes in contact with you that you may have been exposed to a toxic substance.

    Find out from local authorities how to clean up your land and property.

    Report any lingering vapors or other hazards to our offices by calling (304) 599-6382 [9-1-1 non-emergency number].

Remember that chemicals provide great benefits to our society, but they are volatile and must be treated with respect and caution.  The covered facilities that operate within Monongalia County have emergency plans in place and train their staff in emergency response operations.  Contact the Local Emergency Planning Committee for more information.