The 2012 edition of the Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) was developed jointly by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and the Transportation Secretariat of Mexico for use by all emergency services personnel who respond to transportation incidents involving hazardous materials. It is primarily a guide to assist first responders in the following activities:

• Quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the involved materials
• Protecting themselves and the general public during the incident response phase

The Department of Transportation's goal is to place one Emergency Response Guidebook in each emergency service vehicle nationwide through distribution to State and local public safety authorities. Nearly nine million copies have already been distributed without charge.

Copies are available free of charge to emergency departments through each state's emergency coordinator. The guidebook can also be downloaded from Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG).

The Department of Homeland Security Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) Directorate is the central point for notifications regarding infrastructure disruptions and intrusions. Members of the emergency response community are requested to report any incidents or attacks involving their infrastructures using one of the following points of contact:

1. IAIP - Voice: 202-282-9201, Fax: 703-607-4998, E-mail: nicc@dhs.gov
2. Your local FBI office - Web: http://www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm
3. U.S. Fire Administration - Voice: 301-447-1325, E-mail: emr-isac@dhs.gov, Fax: 301-447-1034, Mail: Room J-247, 16825 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD 21727