Timely recognition and accurate characterization of a chemical incident are key components of an effective response. Early recognition saves lives and protects property and the environment by enabling speedy treatment of the injured, containment of the release, interventions to limit the spread of contamination, and possibly preventing a follow-on incident. Accidental chemical incidents are often reported by the Responsible Party; however, they may also be detected through human health surveillance systems and environmental monitoring, barring the presence of an overt indication (e.g., a detectable odor or taste, intelligence, an eyewitness to a release, a cluster of unusual health effects). Historically, chemical attacks have gone unannounced, leaving the response community to decipher that an attack occurred and essential details of its nature and extent.
The KPFs described in this document apply to response and recovery activities for all types of chemical incidents. The Prologue presented a small selection of the chemical and scenario types possible, ranging from releases caused by industrial and transportation accidents, to agricultural production and storage incidents, to terrorist attacks and accidental and intentional poisonings. Populations affected by these event types also varied from a handful of individuals to entire towns and regions. The chemicals released and the release sites were different in every case, but commonalities exist in response and recovery strategies across these scenarios. This KPF focuses on the need to first recognize that an incident is occurring or has occurred and gather information about the release event. It also discusses common strategies for characterizing and conducting an initial assessment of the event.