In the event of a chemical or severe weather emergency, St. Clair County residents may be directed to take one or more of three steps, according to local officials.

“The first step, if your area is not immediately at risk, is to go indoors and monitor the situation,” said Ellen Haynes, local emergency management director. 

In such lower-risk situations, residents are encouraged to remain calm, go or stay indoors and tune in to a local Emergency Alert System (EAS) radio or television station, and stay off the phone.

Depending on the severity of the emergency, officials may determine that residents can best protect themselves by Sheltering in Place.   If directed by EAS messages to Shelter in Place, residents should:

*Stay indoors and close and lock all exterior doors and windows and garage doors.

*Turn off heating and cooling systems, ceiling and exhaust fans, and other ventilation systems.

*Go into a shelter room, such as a bathroom, closet, or hallway that can be closed off with doors.  Bathrooms are recommended, as a Shelter in Place order could last for several hours.  If a shelter room has windows, they should be covered with plastic and sealed with tape.  Cracks around doors and any other openings through which air could enter the shelter room should also be covered and sealed. 

*Monitor the situation by listening to EAS broadcasts.  When officials announce that it is safe to leave the shelter room, open all doors and windows in the house, to remove any lingering chemical vapors that may be trapped there.

If the threat of an emergency is severe enough, emergency officials may order an evacuation.  During an evacuation, residents are encouraged observe the following directions.

*If at home, gather all family members.  If some are not at home, do not wait for them to return.

*Get everyone into a single vehicle, if possible, and leave immediately after the EAS evacuation order ends.

*Take a Disaster Supply Kit.  If one has not already been prepared, do not take time to gather one.  Do not spend time gathering personal items or valuables.

*If it is observed that neighbors are without transportation, offer them a ride if space permits. 

*If not at home, do not attempt to return home before evacuating.  

*When travelling in a vehicle during a chemical emergency, keep car windows up, vents closed, heather or air conditioning off, and the car radio tuned in to an EAS station.

*Do not attempt to pick up children at school.  Schools have their own evacuation plans in place.

*Do not return to the evacuated area until officials announce that it is safe to do so.

For more information about these procedures or other emergency preparedness information, contact the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency at (205) 884-6800.