Please Note:

This information was prepared by the Wood/Wirt County Local Emergency Planning Committee (WWLEPC) and the National Institute for Chemical Studies (NICS) and is supplied as a public service. WWCLEPC, and/or NICS assumes no liability and will not be responsible for any injury which is the consequence of any action (or inaction) undertaken by any person which is in any way related to the information in the ”Know What To Do In Case of An Emergency” Guide.

Keep posted on Weather Conditions. Use your radio and television to keep informed of current weather conditions and forecasts in your area. Even a few hours warning of a storm may enable you to avoid being caught in it, or at least be better prepared to cope with it. You should also understand the terms commonly used in weather forecasts:

• A Watch Means a weather condition that is favorable for the development of a strong or severe storm.

• A Warning Means a severe storm is already occurring and headed in a predetermined direction. TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.

In the event of any tornadoes, flooding, strong damaging winds or hail that is dime-sized or larger, call your local Law Enforcement agency or 911.

Most fire deaths occur in the home. There is one low-cost, easily obtainable device which has proven itself in saving lives; a smoke detector. Deaths from fire in the home have been substantially reduced in the communities where smoke detectors are required.

Each member of your family should know what to do if the smoke detector goes off. A little time spent selecting escape routes and practicing what to do may save lives if a fire occurs in your home. Agree on a place to meet outside so you can be sure everyone gets out of the house safely.

For specific information on your community’s disaster plans, contact your local fire department or Emergency Services. Or click here for the current Wood County Emergency Operations Plan.

Your family emergency plan should include your pets. Different emergencies require different responses. But whether the emergency is a chemical leak or a winter storm, you may have to evacuate your home. The best way to protect your’ pets is to evacuate them too.

1. Plan to take your pets to a friend’s or relative’s home or to a hotel that accepts pets during an emergency. Pets are not permitted in Red Cross emergency shelters because of health regulations.

2. Transport pets in sturdy containers.

3. Have identification, collar, leash, and proof of vaccinations for all pets.

4. Have food and water for your pets.

5. Have a current photo of your pets in case they get lost.

If there is an emergency, your community’s alert system will warn you. Each area has its own warning system. If you are not sure what your community’s warning device is, call your local fire department. Many communities have sirens that will be sounded in a high continuous tone for a community alert as opposed to a normal mode for fire alarms.

An industry-sponsored siren system exists in Southern Wood and Washington Counties. The area covered is along both sides of the Ohio River and includes: communities in West Virginia from Sandy Creek in Washington Bottom to Larkmead, and in Ohio from the Athens/Washington County line to Belpre. This siren will be activated only when an accidental chemical release or similar emergency at DuPont, GE Plastics, or Shell Chemical poses a safety or health concern to the population within the siren system coverage.

This warning siren can be distinguished from the sirens used by the area volunteer fire department sirens. This siren is a single, long sound that does not go up and down in pitch. It is tested on at noon on the first Saturday of each month.

If you should hear an alert siren, immediately turn on a radio or television for instructions over an Emergency Broadcast System station. Instructions will be given as soon as information is received, and the message will be repeated at prescribed intervals as necessary. In other areas, official cars with loudspeaker systems will travel through affected neighborhoods alerting residents.

Again, if you hear a warning through this method, turn on your radio or television for instructions.

Please stay tuned to one of the Emergency Alert System stations as long as the emergency lasts. The official Emergency Alert Station Is WXIL-Radio (95.1 FM). Other participating stations include:

• Stay calm. Do not use the telephone. The lines are needed for official business and your call could delay emergency response organization action.

• Go indoors, close all windows, doors, vents and turn off air conditioners or heating systems.

• Turn on your radio or television to an emergency broadcast station for instructions. The official emergency broadcast station is WXIL-Radlo (95.1 FM).

• Cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief or cloth.

• Close the windows and doors if you are in a building or car.

• Turn off heating or cooling systems. Turn off window and attic fans.

Warning Alert

1. The WARNING ALERT indicates there is a problem which poses no present danger to the community. However, there is a potential for escalation to a more serious situation. The WARNING ALERT informs residents to “stand by”.

2. At the first signal of the community alert siren or other waning alert, go indoors, close all windows, doors and vents, and turn off air conditioners or heating systems. A steady tone for three minutes, repeated several times, is the alert sound.

3. TUNE your radio to one of the participating emergency broadcast stations listed. The following is an example of the type of announcement you will hear:

“At (time) today, local officials reported an industrial accident involving (description of situation). The incident occurred at (location). As a precautionary measure, all persons near this location should stay indoors, close all windows, doors and vents, and turn off all air conditioning or heating systems. Stay tuned for further instructions. The next report will be given at prescribed intervals as necessary. This message will be repeated until conditions change.”

EAS (Emergency Alert System) instructions will tell you the protective action(s) to be taken. The protective action could be Shelter-in-Place, Prepare-to-Evacuate, or Evacuate. Depending on the particular circumstances of the emergency, any of the three protective actions, or a combination, may be appropriate.

1. SHELTER IN PLACE is a proven, effective emergency – protective action which is used when there is insufficient time evacuate in the event of an airborne hazardous material release. In the event of such a release, you may be told to SHELTER IN PLACE rather than to evacuate.

2. Go inside your home or some other building preferably in a room with no or few windows.

3. Stay inside until your radio or television says you can leave safely.

4. Turn off heating or cooling systems, turn off window and fans, shut windows and doors, and cover cracks with tape or wet rags.

5. If you are told to protect your breathing, cover your nose and mouth with a handkerchief or other cloth, wet if possible.

6. Keep your pets inside.

7. Listen to the radio or television for further advice.

8. The following is an example of the type at announcement you might hear:

9. As soon as it can be determined that the hazardous condition has passed, local authorities will announce the emergency is over. If the emergency involved a hazardous material cloud, atthe “all clear” you will be instructed to open windows and doors, ventilate the building and gooutside.

Prepare to Evacuate

1. You may be asked to PREPARE TO EVACUATE if a situation has the potential of escalating to the point where an evacuation is required. During this time, authorities will take actions to alleviate the emergency and also will prepare for an orderly evacuation should it become necessary.

2. Stay tuned to your radio and/or television for further instructions. They will give you instructions on how to prepare for evacuation. If you are in your home, you should gather any clothing and medication you will need for a few days stay away from home. You need not leave your home at this stage. The following is an example of the type of announcement you will hear:

“At (time) today, local officials reported a potentially serious condition involving (description of situation). The incident is occurring at (location). All persons in (names of areas) should stay indoors and prepare to evacuate. If you are in your home, gather all necessary medications and clothing. You do not need to evacuate at this time, but you should locate and review your community evacuation plan. Stay tuned for further instructions. The next report will be given at prescribed intervals as necessary. This message will be repeated until conditions change.”

3. Pack only what you need most. Take clothes, medicine, baby supplies, portable radio, flashlight, checkbook and credit cards.