Emergency Public Information

Categorizing and classifying events

Operational emergencies that are not classified are events that do not involve the release of harmful levels of hazardous materials but require significant response by the site, such as the fire department.

The chart below describes how emergencies are classified at DOE sites. Events resulting in the airborne release of hazardous materials are classified into one of three levels in order of increasing severity based on their potential reach and impact (alert, site area emergency, and general emergency).You will hear these terms used during public announcements.

Emergency classification

• Alert: Harmful airborne release that extends up to 100 meters from the incident.
• Site Area Emergency: Harmful airborne release that extends more than 100 meters or up to the site boundary from the incident.
• General Emergency: Harmful airborne release that has the potential to or has gone offsite.
• Site: is defined as the boundaries of ORNL.

If you are advised to evacuate

An evacuation may be conducted when there is a concern that hazardous materials may impact people in a certain area.Follow these guidelines if you are directed to evacuate from your home or work:

• Write down the evacuation route and designated reception center provided by the Emergency Alert System stations.These instructions will depend on the sector you are in, and which site is involved in the emergency (see the next sections).
• If you do not have transportation, call a neighbor or co-worker for assistance.DO NOT CALL 911.
• Keep your vehicle windows closed and turn off air systems to eliminate the possible intake of outside air into your vehicle.
• Tune your vehicle’s radio to one of the EAS stations listed on page 6.
• Secure your home or workplace.
• If you are at home, gather items you will need for a short stay away from home, such as:
• Medicine and all prescriptions
  • Food, water, and pet food
  • Blankets, pillows, and/or sleeping bag
  • Cash, checkbook, debit and credit cards
  • Important papers
  • Items for baby or children
  • Change of clothing
  • Cell phone and charger

If you need special assistance

If you or someone in your household has special needs, such as hearing or physical impairments that could prevent taking protective actions, contact the local emergency management agency serving your residence to submit a special needs request.

Anderson County Emergency Management Agency: (865) 457-6765 or (865) 457-6767

Knox County/Knoxville Emergency Management Agency: (865) 215-1166

Loudon County Emergency Management Agency: (865) 458-7298

Roane County Office of Emergency Services: (865) 717-4115

City of Oak Ridge Fire Department: (865) 425-3520

Children in school

During an emergency, affected schools will be contacted immediately by local officials.Your children will be sheltered in their school until it is safe to leave.In the event of a relocation, your children will be transported by school officials to the pre-determined locations listed on page 15 of the emergency response guide. If relocation is necessary for sectors beyond the two-mile area, relocation information will be released through media broadcasts.

PARENTS: DO NOT pick up your children until you are told it is safe.

If you are advised to shelter-in-place by local news, please follow these instructions:

• Bring everyone inside (including pets).
• Close all doors and windows.
• Turn off and close all ventilation systems, including:
  • Air conditioning, attic and exhaust fans
  • Furnaces
  • Fireplace dampers

Determine what sector you are in and listen to an Emergency Alert System station (see Public Notification section below) for further directions.

When the outside air is no longer dangerous, an Emergency Alert System message will be released ending the shelter-in-place advisory. Do not re-open the ventilation in your building or home until you receive the Emergency Alert System message.

Shelters may open for individuals who cannot return home because of a shelter-in-place advisory. If you are affected in this manner, please listen to Emergency Alert System stations for a list of open shelters, or go to the home of a friend or relative outside the area of concern.

Warning sirens are placed around Oak Ridge’s three major sites — the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Y-12 National Security Complex, and East Tennessee Technology Park. In the unlikely event of an off-site emergency, sirens will sound to alert area residents.

If you hear the sirens, immediately enter a building or vehicle, turn on a television or radio, and listen for specific instructions from the Emergency Alert System. It is very important to stay tuned to a local station for the latest updates until the event is over.

During an emergency situation on the Oak Ridge Reservation, periodic updates, with greater detail, will be posted on our website.

Note: Sirens are tested the first Wednesday of every month between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.