The actions taken during the first 30 minutes of a chemical emergency determine the success of the overall response. Knowing what a local health department’s (LHD) role is when responding to a chemical incident during those first 30 minutes is critical. While an LHD may not always take the lead role in a response, it is still important for them to know how to contribute to the overall emergency response effort.

The type of chemical released, the location of the release, and how much was released, are just a few of the factors that determine the size of the response. While the size and scope of a chemical incident will influence to what extent an LHD will mobilize, it is necessary to know what triggers a response action from the local health department and what a response looks like. For example, in some jurisdictions the personnel immediately responding to the scene are firefighters, police, or emergency medical responders and they are responsible for assessing the scope and scale of the chemical incident. They will then determine what type of emergency to declare. Once the emergency is declared, it is important that LHDs know what their next response actions are in order to protect the health of their community.

The following are some questions from NACCHO’s Chemical Preparedness Handbook that will help inform a local health department’s initial response strategies and objectives when a chemical incident occurs.

• Priorities: What are your immediate priorities?
• Affected Population: How many people have been affected? Who are those most at-risk?
• Geographical Impact: What geographical area has been impacted?
• Exposure Pathways: What are the exposure pathways?
• Communication: Which information has already been communicated, and what information are you responsible for sharing?
• Healthcare Facilities: Have healthcare facilities been impacted?
• Critical Infrastructure: Has critical infrastructure been impacted?
• Weather Conditions: Will weather conditions impact the situation?

Example Initial Response Actions for Local Health Departments
A non-exhaustive checklist of broad public health response actions can be found on page 61 of the Chemical Preparedness Handbook. Responsibilities will vary depending on local and state authorities, as well as staffing and capacity.

Incident Assessment:

• Quickly assess the scope and scale of the chemical incident.
• Identify the chemicals involved and their potential health impacts.
• Determine the immediate needs of the affected population.

Notification and Activation:

• Notify relevant local, state, and federal agencies.
• Activate the emergency response plan and emergency operations center (EOC).
• Mobilize internal response teams and assign roles.

Public Communication:

• Issue initial public health advisories and safety instructions.
• Provide clear information about the nature of the incident and protective actions.
• Use multiple communication channels to reach diverse populations.

Additional Resources

• CHEMM: The Golden First Minutes — Initial Response to a Chemical Hazardous Materials Incident
• CDC: Chemical Emergencies | Resources
• FEMA: Planning, Decision Support, and Modeling Resources for Chemical Incidents
• DOT PHMSA: Emergency Response Guidebook

For more information about chemical preparedness, action checklists, and more, download the Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Departments or visit NACCHO’s Chemical Preparedness page.

NACCHO is seeking constructive feedback on the Chemical Preparedness Handbook from LHDs. Click here to submit feedback. 

Background

In 2024, in collaboration with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) developed a Chemical Preparedness Resource Library and a Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Department Preparedness and Response Plans to support local health departments chemical preparedness.

The Resource Library serves as a one-stop shop for local health departments to find evidence-based tools and resources for preparing for chemical emergencies.