Response and recovery operations following a large-scale release of a toxic chemical have the potential to be time-consuming and complex. Early in the response, when situational awareness is rudimentary and information gathering is ongoing, decision-making processes will face many obstacles.
Therefore, the pre-established stakeholder working groups should identify the key decisions that will need to be made, the minimum information needed to make those decisions, and potential sources for this information. Default response actions should be developed to use when event-specific information is not available. Advance planning for decision-making processes can facilitate response and recovery activities so that, once community lifeline stabilization activities are complete, normal community life can resume.
Decision-making processes should be established to select among available options for (a) evacuation or shelter-in-place, (b) decontamination/environmental remediation, (c) waste management, and (d) clearance determinations (see below), taking into consideration many complex and competing factors, including clearance goals, health risks, resource availability, costs, timelines, and waste generation. The processes will need to balance political/social priorities and public health protection against time and cost constraints, and, therefore, should include discussion of reimbursement/ compensation for resources provided and contingencies if resources are damaged, destroyed, etc.