Emergency Management

Hazardous Materials (HazMat)

A hazardous material (HazMat) is any solid, liquid or gas that can harm people, living organisms, physical property or the environment. Chemical manufacturers, distributors and vendors are sources of hazardous materials, as are hazardous materials waste sites and many users, including service stations and hospitals. Spills or releases can happen during production, storage, transportation, use or disposal.

Most HazMat incidents occur at a "fixed facility," such as an industrial plant. Incidents also happen at railroads, highways, pipelines and waterways. Homes, businesses and schools located near the site of a hazardous materials spill or release are likely to be unaffected unless the substance is airborne and poses a threat to areas outside the accident site or contaminates a water source for a municipal water system. Federal, State and local regulations, plans and programs combine to minimize the risk to the public and the environment. You can protect yourself by learning about hazardous materials, possible risks in your community and how you should respond in a hazardous materials emergency.¹

HazMat Incident Safety Tips

Listen to local radio, television and social media for information and instructions.
Stay away from the area to minimize the risk of contamination.
Remember that some toxic chemicals are odorless.
If you are outside, stay upstream, uphill and upwind. Try to go at least one-half mile (8-10 city blocks) from the danger area.
Do not walk into or touch any spilled liquids, airborne mists, or solid chemical deposits.
If outside, seek shelter in a permanent building.
If you are asked by authorities to evacuate, do so immediately.

Radiation Emergencies

In a radiation emergency, such as a nuclear power plant accident, a nuclear detonation or the explosion of a dirty bomb you may be asked to get inside a building (shelter in place) for a period of time instead of leaving (evacuation). The walls of a building can block much of the harmful radiation, but the basement or the middle of the building is the most protected from outside ionizing radiation. Radioactive material settles on the outside of buildings, so the best thing to do is stay as far away from the walls and roof of the building as you can. Because radioactive materials become weaker over time, staying inside for at least 24 hours can protect yourself from contamination. Cars do not provide good protection from radioactive material; If you can get to a brick or concrete multi-story building or basement within a few minutes, go there. But being inside any building is safer than being outside.

Decontamination: It is important to get radioactive material off your body as soon as possible to lower your risk of harm. Removing radioactive material from a person, object, or place is called decontamination. Decontaminating yourself will lower your exposure to harmful radioactive material.

How to self-decontaminate after radiation exposure:

Carefully remove outer layer of clothing, and place in sealable bag or container away from humans and animals.
Wash yourself off by taking a full shower, gently soaping the entire body. Use shampoo on hair, but do not use conditioner as it can cause radioactive material to stick to your hair. If you cannot take a full shower, wash your hands, face and limbs with soap and plenty of water. If you don’t have access to fresh water, use a moist wipe or damp paper towel to wipe parts of your body that were uncovered, and dispose of all used materials in a sealed bag or container away from humans and animals.
Put on clean clothing.

Accidental Spill Reporting

In the case of an accidental spill or slug discharge in the sewer collection system, immediately call Spokane County Sewer Maintenance at 509.477.1984, and the Spokane County Regional Water Reclamation Facility at 509.536.3700 (after hours number 509-979-4708).

For more information about HazMat incidents, visit: