Hazardous Materials Emergency Advisories

Programs that issue bulletins or otherwise inform the public of traffic accidents, train derailments, fires or accidents in chemical manufacturing plants or other incidents involving the release of chemical substances which pose a threat to the environment or public health. People can be exposed by breathing the chemical; swallowing food, water or medication contaminated by the chemical; touching the chemical; or coming into contact with clothing or other materials that have touched the chemical. Hazardous chemical emergency advisories identify the type of health hazard, the area affected, steps that people can take to protect themselves, evacuation routes (if necessary), shelter locations and the types and location of appropriate medical facilities.