EMERGENCY INFO

Flammable or toxic hazardous materials (hazmat) can be accidentally released from several sources in our community: facilities (such as auto painting and repair garages, chemical plants, dry cleaning plants, swimming pool supply stores, etc.), pipelines, railroads, and tanker trucks that transport chemicals and hazardous materials through Fort Bend County to other destinations.

Unlike the Houston Ship Channel area in east Harris County, there are only a few facilities in Fort Bend County that manufacture, store, or produce hazardous chemicals.

However, pipeline corridors run through many residential neighborhoods, transporting useful but hazardous products such as natural gas to heat our homes and businesses.

All railroad cars and tanker trucks must display Department of Transportation placards that warn emergency responders what products are being transported.  The truck on the left is carrying a flammable product #1203 which is gasoline.  The rail car on the right is carrying #1993 or diesel fuel.

COMMUNITY WARNING SYSTEMS

In case of a hazmat release affecting Fort Bend County, city and county offices of emergency management will notify their local residents using various community warning systems (such as roadside warnings signs, sirens, telephone notification systems, and Emergency Alert System (EAS) broadcasts on local radio and TV stations in the Houston area).  Only those residents who could be affected by the release will be notified.

Emergency messages can be broadcast on Fort Bend County's emergency radio station, Alert AM 1670, and on Houston's Emergency Alert System stations: KTRH 740 AM and KUHF 88.7 FM, plus tone-alert warnings on NOAA All-Hazard Radios that you can purchase at most electronic stores.

PUBLIC PROTECTIVE ACTIONS

If a hazardous material is toxic, city or county Emergency Management officials may recommend that you and your family should Shelter-In-Place as a safety precaution:

1. Go inside the nearest building or vehicle; close all doors and windows.
2. Turn off air conditioning or furnaces that might draw in outside air.
3. Turn on the radio and television for more information.

Do not telephone or drive to your child's school (unless notified to do so by school officials).  All schools in the affected area will be safely sheltered-in-place, so teachers can not open their doors to let parents (or toxic chemicals) inside the school building.

Stay inside, safely sheltered-in-place, until local officials issue the "All Clear" on local radio and TV stations, meaning that it's safe for you and your family to leave your shelter and resume normal activities.

If a hazardous material is explosive and time permits, city or county Emergency Management officials may recommend Evacuation of nearby homes, schools and businesses whose structures or windows could be damaged by an explosion.  Unlike the evacuation of an entire coastal region for a hurricane, the evacuation for a chemical release is usually limited to a half-mile radius or less.  Local officials will designate evacuation routes and/or open evacuation shelters in safe, upwind locations.

Stay outside of the evacuation area until local officials issue the "All Clear" on local radio and TV stations, meaning that it's safe for you and your family to return home.

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Updated:  January 2, 2012
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