Chemical Preparedness Resource Library

This resource library contains background information on chemical emergencies, preparedness and response guidance, trainings, templates and examples for public communications, case studies, and more.

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Resource Name/Link	Description	Type of Resource	Source
Strategy for Developing a Community Chemical Response Plan	Brief overview for developing a chemical response plan	Guidance	CHEMM
Planning and Decision Framework for Chemical Incident Consequence Management	Consequence management planning and decision framework for response and recovery from a large-scale hazardous chemical incident	Guidance	FEMA
Public Health Preparedness and Response to Chemical and Radiological Incidents: Functions, Practices, and Areas for Future Work	Framework for public health preparedness and response roles in chemical and radiological	Guidance	LaTourrette et al., 2009. RAND Corporation
Hazardous Materials Response: A Guide to Aid Local Health Directors and Staff in Planning For and Responding to Hazardous Materials Releases - Connecticut Department of Public Health	Guide for state and local health department staff in Connecticut to respond to hazmat releases	Guidance	The Connecticut Department of Public Health
EPA’s Response Techniques	Information on EPA's emergency response actions	Guidance	EPA
Hazardous Materials Response Plan An Annex to the Warren County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan ESF #10	LHD guide for responding to hazardous materials incident	Guidance	Warren County, NY
The Public Health Response to Biological and Chemical Terrorism Interim Planning Guidance State Public Health Officials	Planning guidance to help coordinate efforts for responding to biological or chemical terrorism event	Guidance	CDC
Key Planning Factors and Considerations for Response to and Recovery from a Chemical Incident	Reference for regional, state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) departments that developing response and recovery plans for chemical incidents	Guidance	FEMA
Primary Response Incident Scene Management (PRISM) Guidance	Series of strategic, tactical, and operational guidance on mass patient disrobe and decontamination during a chemical incident	Guidance	BARDA
Managing Hazardous Materials Incidents (MHMIs)	Three sets of planning guides for prehospital and hospital medical management of patients exposed during a hazmat incident	Guidance	ATSDR
A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders	Framework for stress management strategies for first responders	Guidance	SAMHSA
Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations: Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers	Guide for engaging faith-based and community organizations in emergency preparedness and planning	Guidance	FEMA
Chemical Quick Reference Guides	Quick reference guides (QRGs) for responding to chemical agents in the categories shown below. Intended for Federal On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs).	Guidance	The U.S. National Response Team

Resource Name/Link	Description	Type of Resource	Source
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication	Course for learning emergency risk communication principles and tools for successful public, partner and stakeholder communication during emergencies.	Training	Reynolds et al., 2002. CDC
Medical Management of Chem, Bio, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Events	CBRNE; medical management	Training	Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
Key Planning Factors and Considerations for Response to and Recovery from Chemical Incidents	Course for learning how to create a chemical incident-specific plan for response and recovery	Training	FEMA
IS-5.A: An Introduction to Hazardous Materials	HAZMAT; response	Training	FEMA
HazMat Emergency Preparedness Training and Tools for Responders	Training and Tools developed by ATSDR to help communities prepare for hazardous materials emergencies and disasters.	Training	ATSDR

Resource Name/Link	Description	Type of Resource	Source
Best Practices for Communicating Risk in an Emergency \| Key Planning Factors and Considerations for Response to and Recovery from a Chemical Incident	Best practices for communicating messages to the public	Guidance	FEMA
Evacuate In a Chemical Emergency	Facts about how and when to evacuate during a chemical emergency	Guidance	CDC
Get It Off	Facts About Personal Cleaning & Disposal of Contaminated Clothing after coming into contacts with dangerous chemicals	Guidance	CDC
Stay Put and Seal Off Your Space in a Chemical Emergency	Facts about sheltering in place during a chemical emergency	Guidance	CDC
Response Communication Guidelines \| Key Planning Factors and Considerations for Response to and Recovery from a Chemical Incident	Guidelines for communicating messages to the public	Guidance	FEMA
Communicating in a Crisis: Risk Communication Guidelines for Public Officials	Guidelines for communicating messages to the public	Guidance	SAMHSA
Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication by Leaders for Leaders	Guidelines for communicating messages to the public	Guidance	Reynolds 2004. CDC

Resource Name/Link	Description	Type of Resource	Source
Prioritizing First-Responder Mental Health with Critical Incident Stress Management	Article with three recommended crisis intervention models for managing mental crises among first responders	Article	Hernandez et al., 2021. ICMA
A Guide to Managing Stress for Disaster Responders and First Responders	Framework for stress management strategies for first responders	Guidance	SAMHSA
Mental Health First Aid for Fire/EMS	Training for mental health intervention among first responders	Training	Mental Health First Aid
Disaster Responder Stress Management	Resource for stress management planning	Website	SAMHSA

Resource Name/Link	Type of Resource	Source
Public health response and medical management of internal contamination in past radiological or nuclear incidents: A narrative review	Journal Article	Li et al., 2022. Environment International
Management of acute exposure to toxic gases in the oil & gas industry -a practical approach	Journal Article	Lizarazo Salcedo et al., 2021. Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health
Anhydrous Ammonia Chemical Release — Lake County, Illinois, April 2019	Report	Rispens et al., 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
National Toxic Substances Incidents Program - Nine States, 2010-2014	Report	Melnikova et al., 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
A framework for integrating information resources for chemical emergency management and response	Journal Article	Seaton et al., 2019. American Journal of Disaster Medicine
Evaluation of US Federal Guidelines (Primary Response Incident Scene Management [PRISM] for Mass Decontamination of Casualties During the Initial Operational Response to a Chemical Incident	Journal Article	Chilcott et al., 2019. Annals of Emergency Medicine
Nerve Agent Incidents and Public Health Preparedness	Journal Article	Chang et al., 2019. Annals of Internal Medicine
Extreme Weather, Chemical Facilities, and Vulnerable Communities in the U.S. Gulf Coast: A Disastrous Combination	Journal Article	Anenberg and Kalman 2019. GeoHealth
Emergency/Disaster Preparedness of Rural Healthcare Providers	Dissertation	Abrams 2018. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global
Multi-plant emergency response for tackling major accidents in chemical industrial areas	Journal Article	Hosseinnia et al., 2018. Safety Science
Assessment of Impact and Recovery Needs in Communities Affected by the Elk River Chemical Spill, West Virginia, April 2014	Journal Article	Burreret al., 2017. Public Health Reports
Acute Health Effects After the Elk River Chemical Spill, West Virginia, January 2014	Journal Article	Thomassonet al., 2017. Public Health Reports
Medical Response to a Vinyl Chloride Release From a Train Derailment: New Jersey, 2012	Journal Article	Shumateet al., 2017. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Mercury Spill Responses — Five States, 2012–2015	Journal Article	Wozniak et al., 2017. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Hazardous Chemical Releases Occurring in School Settings, 14 States, 2008–2013	Journal Article	Anderson et al., 2017. Journal of Environmental Health
Hospital Impact After a Chemical Spill That Compromised the Potable Water Supply — West Virginia, January 2014	Journal Article	Hsu et al., 2017. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Off the rails in rural South Carolina: a qualitative study of healthcare provider perspectives on the long-term health impact of the Graniteville train disaster	Journal Article	Ingram et al., 2016. Rural and Remote Health
Challenges During a Chlorine Gas Emergency Response	Journal Article	Christensen et al., 2016. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
A decision support framework for characterizing and managing dermal exposures to chemicals during Emergency Management and Operations	Journal Article	Dotson et al., 2015. Journal of Emergency Management
Public Health Response to Acute Chemical Incidents — Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance, Nine States, 1999–2008	Report	Melnikova et al., 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Engaging a chemical disaster community: lessons from Graniteville	Journal Article	Abara et al., 2014. International Journal of Environmental research and Public Health
Training of public health personnel in handling CBRN emergencies: A table-top exercise card concept	Journal Article	Sandström et al., 2014. Environment International
Evidence-Based Patient Decontamination: An Integral Component of Mass Exposure Chemical Incident Planning and Response	Journal Article	Leary et al., 2014. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
Public Health Emergency Planning for Children in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN Disasters	Journal Article	Bartenfeld et al., 2014. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
Public Health Response Systems In-Action: Learning from Local Health Departments’ Experiences with Acute and Emergency Incidents	Journal Article	Hunter et al., 2013. PLoS ONE
Local Health Department Capacity for Community Engagement and Its Implications for Disaster Resilience	Journal Article	Schoch-Spana et al., 2013. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism: Biodefense Strategy, Practice, and Science
Emergency planning and preparedness for the deliberate release of toxic industrial chemicals	Journal Article	Russell et al., 2010. Clinical Toxicology
Triage, monitoring, and treatment of mass casualty events involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents	Journal Article	Ramesh and Kumar 2010. Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences
Chemical Facility Incidents Since April 2020	Website	Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters
Partners and Collaborators for Emergency Preparedness and Response	Website	Rural Health Information Hub

For questions or to learn more about chemical preparedness, please email [email protected].