When do you call?
A regional team may be activated for any incident involving a hazardous materials release, leak, explosion, injury or potential of immediate threat to life, the environment or property.
Prompts for calling may included:
Unidentified product
Dangerous product?
People exposed?
Dangers to environment?
If you have a unknown chemical, call for assistance.
If the chemical is known, consult the USDOT Emergency Response Guidebook for general information and/or your local emergency response plan. If the required response is beyond your capabilities, call for assistance.
Consult facility contact or shipping papers, if available. Assess your local capabilities, including training, personal protective equipment, etc. If response is beyond your capabilities, call for assistance.
The regional team may offer assistance ranging from telephone advice to a full level "A" response.
How do you request assistance from the NEWRHT?
In three ways:
Call 911
Call the Wisconsin Emergency Management Hotline at 1.800.943.0003 and press 2
(From 7am to 4pm) Call Appleton FD at 920.832.5810 or Oshkosh FD at 920.236.5240
Weather you call the Wisconsin Emergency Management Hotline or you call us direct you will be asked to provide the following information:
Location of the incident
Name and amount of released product, if known
Name and telephone call-back number
A member of the regional team will call you back for further information. Answers to the following questions will help determine the level of response that may be provided.
Type of incident?
Product involved?
Quantity of product?
Container damage?
Location?
Injuries, or potential injuries?
Weather conditions?
Special considerations
The NEWRHT will want to know the best route to the scene. They will also want to know the level of training of the responders on scene, if there are other resources on scene and the name of the contact on site.
What are the responsibilities of the local jurisdiction?
The local jurisdiction is responsible for management of the incident. This responsibility includes but is not limited to:
Scene security
Fire-related activities
Mutual aid
Evacuations, if necessary
Traffic control
Ambulance and EMS service
Liaison with regional team
You will need to maintain your own records, file your own reports, notify other appropriate agencies, and continue to handle this incident as you would manage any other. The regional team is a resource to local response agencies. We will NOT take over an incident from you!
What can you expect from us?
Advice on immediate and ongoing actions
Trained personnel that will bring all the necessary equipment to secure the site, begin mitigation operations, and decontamination.
The team will not bring a firefighting apparatus or other firefighting equipment.
What assistance will the NEWRHT expect from you?
Firefighting equipment
Your radio frequencies to be used for coordination
Maps and other information about the area
500 gallons of water reserved for decontamination
Liaison person knowledgeable about your department and the area assigned to work with us
Assistance in setting up equipment
Additional resources as necessary
Who is involved?
Fire services
Emergency Medical Services
Emergency Management
Law Enforcement
Department of Natural Resources
Responsible party
Elected officials
State/Federal agencies
American Red Cross
What training is recommended for local responders?
Minimum is Hazardous Material Awareness and Operations