THE ESSENTIAL ACTION
Follow local instructions to evacuate or shelter in place. Do not approach a spill to identify it.
Before: make the plan
- Learn the warning systems used near your home and workplace.
- Identify an interior room and ways to turn off ventilation if officials direct you to shelter.
- Keep a radio, phone charger, and household contact plan available.
During: protect people
- If told to shelter, go indoors, close doors and windows, and follow instructions about ventilation and sealing openings.
- A particulate mask does not protect against many chemical gases. Do not rely on it to enter a release area.
- If you may have been exposed, contact emergency services or your local poison information service and follow their guidance.
After: recover carefully
- Leave shelter or restart ventilation only when officials advise it.
- Follow instructions on decontamination and drinking-water safety; avoid handling contaminated belongings without guidance.
Published by the Beforetheoutage.com editorial desk.
Read the official guidance
Source links included 3 October 2026. Guidance must be adapted to your country, building, and personal circumstances.
