| FAQ Civil Defence |
Evacuation
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| Q: What is the first thing I should do after I leave my home? |
| You should secure your house and leave a note on the door indicating that your unit has been vacated. |
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| Q: Can I drive my car to the assembly area if it is too far away from my home? |
| Do not drive your personal vehicle as transportation for evacuation will be provided if the distance to the assembly area is considerable. |
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| Q: Should I use the lift? |
| Avoid using the lift as far as possible. |
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| Q: How do I know where is the assembly area? |
| There will be evacuation marshals to direct you. Follow the directions given by them and you will be able to reach the assembly area. |
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| Q: What should I bring when an evacuation occurs? |
| Do not pack too much personal belongings. Bring only what is necessary (e.g. medication, milk for baby and personal identification documents). |
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| Q: How do I know that I need to evacuate from my premises if I do not see any disaster myself? |
| You will be alerted by the authorities (Police or SCDF) through any of the following channels:
a. Police or SCDF Officer informing you personally at your doorstep;
b. Broadcast through loud hailer;
c. Broadcast through available mass media; or
d. Public Warning System;
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In-Place Protection
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| Q: What are the hazards likely to be encountered? |
| The hazards which we may encounter include the hazardous materials found in the industries, e.g. chlorine and ammonia. These materials may be toxic, corrosive, flammable or even explosive. Although the storage and transportation of industrial chemicals are well regulated, we are not totally invulnerable to accidents. In addition to these chemicals, there is the possibility of encountering unconventional agents, i.e. chemical warfare agents, biological warfare agents, and radiological substances, given the current security climate. Therefore, it is important to be fully prepared for any eventuality. |
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| Q: What are the likely incidents where IPP may be implemented? |
| IPP may be implemented in the event of a chemical release resulting from industrial accident or a road traffic accident involving tanker transporting hazardous chemicals. The public may also be instructed to seek in-place protection should there be a terrorist attack where toxic or harmful substances (e.g. toxic industrial chemical, chemical warfare agent or biological agent) are released. |
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| Q: Shouldn’t we just evacuate? Is staying indoors safe? |
| If time and condition allow for evacuation, this may be the preferred action. However, there may be specific reasons where evacuation may put you/family at greater risk. This could include exposing yourself to levels of chemical that are unsafe, in which case IPP would provide better protection. In general, in-place protection is appropriate when conditions require that you seek immediate protection. |
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| Q: How would we know when In-Place Protection is to be conducted? |
| In the event of an emergency, the ‘Important Message’ signal of the Public Warning System (PWS) may be sounded. The public should then tune in to their radio or TV and follow the directions of the emergency officials. Other means like loudhailer or door-to-door notification may also be adopted by emergency officials. |
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| Q: How much time do I have to get to the room and conduct IPP once I hear the important message being announced? |
| The situation will vary, depending on the nature of the event. It is best to take immediate protective action as soon as you hear on the radio or television that IPP is to be implemented. |
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| Q: Is sealing the room effective? |
| Studies have shown that taking steps to temporarily seal off a room using common materials enhances the safety of a room against the impact of a chemical plume. Although closing windows and doors and shutting of air-conditioning would effectively provide protection, sealing the room would further reduce the air change and enhance the level of protection. |
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| Q: Why are masking tape and plastic sheeting recommended? |
| Masking tape and plastic sheeting or trash bags are common items whose materials are resistant to permeation from vapor. These can be easily applied to create an airlock in a room to reduce the infiltration of hazardous vapor to provide protection for you and your family. Once the plume has passed, it is easy to remove these materials to ventilate the room. |
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| Q: Is there a particular type (brand) of tape that citizens should buy? |
| No particular type or brand is recommended. The purpose of the tape is to seal off any gaps around the windows and doors. Tape with wider width would be easier to handle. Recommendation is to use masking tape with a minimum width of 48mm. |
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| Q: What is the most effective type of plastic sheeting? |
| Any type of plastic sheeting or trash bags could be used, as long as they don’t tear easily when stretched over the windows. |
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| Q: How long are we expected to stay in a sealed room? |
| Many chemical releases would be diluted within a few hours, so the direction to conduct In-Place Protection would likely be made for a short time period while a chemical cloud dissipates. |
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| Q: What are the necessary items to be kept in an IPP Kit? |
The essential items are:
a. Masking tape (minimum width of 48mm)
b. trash bags
c. a pair of scissors
d. battery operated radio with fresh supply of batteries
The optional items are:
a. torchlight/s
b. bottled water (where there is no access to running water in the room selected for IPP)
c. Non-perishable food supply for at least one meal
d. Mobile phone (in the absence of hard-wired telephone in the room selected for IPP)
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| Q: Are there any more resources on IPP that I can access? |
You can view a short video clip on IPP here |
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