Hazardous Materials Emergencies
Oak Grove's location on a major interstate highway and a major railroad line makes us vulnerable to accidents involving hazardous materials. In case of an accident involving these materials, two courses of action may be recommended. A spilled material that may burn or explode may require evacuation and in other cases, a tactic called "shelter in place" may be advised. To shelter in place, seek safety within the building one already occupies, rather than to evacuate the area or seek a community emergency shelter. To effectively shelter in place, turn off heating and cooling systems, vents fans, clothes dryers, or any other equipment that might draw air into the building, and take shelter in a small interior room, like a bathroom, with few or no windows, and wait there until there is an announcement that the hazard has passed. During this time wet towels under the door, plastic, and duct tape can be used to seal the hazardous material out. Obviously, this is intended for only a short stay in the shelter until a vapor or gas cloud has dispersed. Emergency messages for a hazardous material event will be transmitted by outdoor warning sirens, Nixle, and NOAA Weather Radio, just like a weather event.