Man-made disasters involve hazardous materials typically related to accidental disasters at fixed facilities and transportation accidents.
Emergency management experts agree that transportation-related accidents probably pose the biggest
threat to the public. Traffic carrying hazardous materials moves through various areas every day, via
highways and rail lines. Significant air traffic flies over us. Even accidents involving ordinary cars
and trucks can cause a sizable emergency. And fires can escalate into disasters, depending on their size
and location.
Understand what it means to shelter in place and to evacuate. In the event of an accident involving
hazardous materials, your safety will depend on following instructions from first responders about
whether to stay or go.
In a serious emergency, emergency responders will advise you to do one of two things:
Shelter in place simply means, "stay home!" In situations involving a hazardous materials release, you
may be asked to "seal" your home.
Find detailed information about whether to stay put or to evacuate.
A natural instinct may be to flee in an emergency, however, emergency personnel may recommend sheltering
in place – staying home - instead. Sheltering in place may be the safest and most appropriate response
for these kinds of disasters. Always listen to emergency responders.
Implement proactive measures that make Springfield and Greene County a national model of community resilience through prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
Monday-Friday 7:30 am to 4:30 pm (except holidays). A staff member assigned as Duty Officer maintains an on-call, 24/7 status.