How will I know if there is a chemical emergency?

Do plants in the Deer Park area have their own alarm systems?

What is the Warning Sound on the Outside Alarm System?

What should I do during a chemical emergency?

Should I try to evacuate?

What if I can't find shelter?

What if my children are in school?

How will I know when the emergency is over?

What is the All Clear Sound on the Outside Alarm System?
 
 

HOW WILL I KNOW IF THERE IS A CHEMICAL EMERGENCY?

If a chemical emergency could affect citizens within the City of Deer Park, Police dispatchers will activate the Outside Alarm System. The alarms are activated for chemical emergencies or severe weather such as a tornado that's been spotted in the Deer Park area. The Outside Alarm System is tested at 6:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month.

Eight siren-type alarms are mounted on utility poles throughout the City of Deer Park (plus another alarm is installed at Battleground State Park). The alarms can be sounded citywide or only in the geographic area affected by the emergency. 

If you have a sound card and speakers on your computer, click to listen to the Warning Sound which consists of 7 wavering tones.  

Also, an automated telephone notification network can ring the telephones of homes and businesses in the immediate danger area, giving pre-recorded instructions about what to do. The network can be activated citywide or within one or more geographic zones, calling thousands of telephones within minutes. 

The database contains all listed telephone numbers in Deer Park. Residents with unlisted telephone numbers who would like to be added to the  database should call the City's Director of Emergency Services at 281/478-7298. The information you provide will only be used for emergency notification purposes.

DO PLANTS IN THE DEER PARK AREA HAVE THEIR OWN ALARM SYSTEMS?

Yes, most plants do, so they can warn their employees and contractors to evacuate the plant or seek safe shelter during a fire or chemical release. Each plant's alarm sounds are purposely different, so employees at neighboring plants will know what type of incident is occurring where. Most plants test their alarm systems at least once a week, according to a pre-determined Alarm Test Schedule.

WHAT SHOULD I DO DURING A CHEMICAL EMERGENCY?

Industry officials are responsible for notifying Deer Park Police/Fire Dispatch about any chemical release that may affect the community. City of Deer Park officials are responsible for warning nearby homes, schools and businesses and recommending appropriate protective actions.  You are responsible for following those instructions to protect yourself and your family.

City officials may recommend that you "shelter in place" until the chemical release is stopped and winds have dissipated any vapors. Here's how to Shelter In Place:

1.       GO INSIDE IMMEDIATELY

Take yourself and anyone near you inside an enclosed structure, whether it's a house, business, garage, or vehicle. If you know of an invalid or unattended child in your neighborhood, call them and tell them to remain indoors. Keep any pets inside also.

Close all doors, windows, and other sources of outside air. Turn off air conditioning or heating systems, and close the fireplace damper to keep chemical vapors from entering. Ceiling fans or rotary fans inside the building can be safely used to keep cool. Gather a portable radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.

Move into an interior room, preferably a room with no windows.  From the inside of that room, cover any outside doors, windows, ceiling vents, and other sources of outside air with plastic sheeting and masking tape.  Place a wet towel or sheet along the bottom of the door sill.  If you smell any unusual odor or have trouble breathing, you should sit down, cover your nose and mouth with a damp washcloth, then take slow, shallow breaths and try to stay calm.

Deer Park Police/Fire dispatchers can activate these warning signs by remote control to advise motorists to listen to AM 530 for emergency messages.  Similar warning signs are installed on all major streets leading into the City of Deer Park.

2.       TURN ON YOUR RADIO TO AM 530

The City has installed its own radio station at 530 on the AM dial. During non-emergency periods, AM 530 airs community and school district news, and re-broadcasts reports from the National Weather Service. During a chemical release, AM 530 will continuously repeat instructions about how to Shelter In Place and provide more information as it's available.  

Because AM 530 operates at only 10 watts, you may need a more powerful radio or outside antenna to hear these broadcasts. If you can't hear AM 530, tune your AM radio to KTRH AM 740 instead. KTRH is the official Emergency Alert System (EAS) station for the Houston area and can re-broadcast emergency messages transmitted by the City of Deer Park.  EAS messages are also broadcast on KUHF-FM 88.7 and on NOAA Weather Radio.

3.       STAY OFF THE TELEPHONE

City officials may try to telephone your home or business using the city's computerized telephone notification system. Do not call police, fire, or 9-1-1 unless you are reporting a police, fire or medical emergency at your location. Overloaded telephone circuits may keep actual emergency calls from getting through.

SHOULD I TRY TO EVACUATE?

Evacuation may be an appropriate precaution during a flood or hurricane, but you should NOT attempt an evacuation during a chemical emergency unless specifically ordered by city officials. Leaving your home or business may expose you to more chemical vapors, especially if you travel toward the leak or through the toxic cloud as it drifts downwind.

WHAT IF I CAN'T FIND SHELTER?

Signs have been posted in all city parks identifying the closest public buildings where you can shelter in place. City employees have been assigned to open these buildings after normal operating hours in order to provide safe shelter.

Studies indicate that taking shelter is the best response to a chemical release. Even a poorly sealed building or vehicle provides some protection against chemical vapors. If you are inside a vehicle, close your vehicle's doors and windows, and turn off the vehicle's air conditioning and ventilation system. Turn on your car radio to AM 530 or KTRH AM 740 for more information.

If you can't get inside, move in a crosswind direction, so the wind is blowing from left to right, or right to left, but NOT directly into your face or from behind you. You can see what direction the wind is blowing by observing nearby trees, flags, or clouds in the sky.

WHAT IF MY CHILDREN ARE IN SCHOOL?

The City and Deer Park Independent School District have installed emergency notification radios in the School District Administration Building, all school buildings, and all city buildings. This pager-type radio system can be instantly activated by Police Dispatchers, so the administrative staff and teachers at your children's school will be notified in the event of a chemical release. They have been trained how to protect your children and will shelter in place until the emergency is over.

Please do NOT call the school and tie up telephone lines needed by school staff to communicate with district officials. If you go to the school, you are putting yourself and all the other children in danger if school officials open the doors to let you remove your children from their safe shelter. In fact, you and your children could be overcome by vapors while traveling to or from the school. Instead, listen to AM 530 for parent information from school officials.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN THE EMERGENCY IS OVER?

Stay inside, sheltered in place, until you hear the "All Clear"  message from city officials over the Outside Alarm System, telephone notification system, or AM 530. 

The all clear signal is a continuous tone on the Outside Alarm System. 

If you have a sound card and speakers on your computer, click to listen to the All Clear Sound.

After the All Clear signal has been given, open all doors and windows, turn on your air conditioning or heating system, then go outside to let the building "air out" for 15-30 minutes before you re-enter.

For more information about the different warning and communications systems available in the City of Deer Park, click on the COMMUNICATIONS page under ABOUT US on this website.