For an incident involving an unidentified chemical, biological or radiological agent:
Evacuate and Isolate for 660 feet minimum in all directions (including up). This isolation distance meets or exceeds ERG guidelines for toxic inhalation hazards, chemical weapons and radiological sources. If a hazardous material is placarded or identified, utilize the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) for evacuation distances.
Circumstances may dictate that distances be increased.
Responders should stay uphill, upwind, upstream and avoid low lying areas.
Responders should contain and not enter this area without appropriate personal protective equipment and approval from their supervisor. Evacuations in the Exclusion Zone (Red Zone) are in fact Rescues and shall only be executed by properly trained and equipped personnel.
Consider downwind/downhill evacuations and/or shelter in-place if necessary.
Wind direction and conditions need to be taken into consideration when determining evacuation locations and distances.
The evacuation and isolation distances should not be decreased by anyone other than the Incident Commander who will have utilized his hazardous materials specialist’s technical reference capabilities to determine this.
The term “shelter in-place” refers to circumstances where people should seek shelter inside a building and remain inside until the danger passes. This is used when evacuating the public would cause greater risk than staying where they are, or when evacuation cannot be performed. Direct the people inside to close all doors and windows and to shut off all ventilating, heating and cooling systems.