Preparedness & Response

Preparedness & Response

firefighters fighting a fire
Preparedness and Response

Firefighters fighting a fire

For natural disaster relief and assistance, please visit our Disaster Response page.

PHMSA recognizes the first element of facing a challenge is to prepare for it. Preparing involves many different activities; planning, training, exercising, and enhancing capabilities.

Reaching out to emergency responders, hazardous materials, and pipeline industry stakeholders is one of PHMSA's core goals to ensure the preparedness and response communities are fully primed to deal with any type of hazardous material or pipeline incident. PHMSA provides technical expertise to industry and works closely with the response community to ensure the transportation system remains safe.

Moving into the future, it is essential for PHMSA to continue to build partnerships with you, the stakeholder, for the improvement of emergency response capabilities and continue to enhance the safety of the hazardous materials transportation and energy pipeline supply system.

Accidents

Hazardous Materials Transportation and Pipeline Accidents are to be reported directly to the 24-hour National Response Center (NRC): 1-800-424-8802

DOT 24-hour Crisis Management Center: 202-366-1863

Decontamination - Firefighter Quick Reference

Decontamination - Firefighter Quick Reference (PDF)

Includes diagrams of emergency decontamination corridor system and also ladder pipe decontamination system.

Contact Us

Hazmat Contact: Hazardous Materials Information Center

1-800-HMR-4922 Mon to Fri 9 to 5 EST (202-366-4488 for Washington DC residents)