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Chemical Incident

Chemicals used to manufacture products and operate machinery are stored throughout Minnesota – usually safely and according to regulations. However, these chemicals can spill, leak or burn, creating serious hazards for people living or working nearby.

Each year in Minnesota, state and local officials respond to approximately 2,000 chemical incidents, including small gasoline spills, big pipeline breaks, storage tanker and train accidents and toxic air releases. Most of these incidents don't pose a threat to human health, but even one serious chemical incident can pose a risk to large numbers of people.

One such incident occurred on June 30, 1992. As a train approached a bridge over the Nemadji River near Superior, Wisconsin, 14 freight cars derailed. Some of the 21,850 gallons of hazardous chemicals that spilled into the river evaporated, creating a toxic vapor cloud 20 miles long and five miles wide. As a result, more than 40,000 people were evacuated from the cities of Duluth and Superior.

Even chemical incidents that do not threaten public health can harm the environment. These incidents may be extremely dangerous to firefighters (who often respond first) and are very costly. An oil pipeline rupture in Cohasset, Minnesota, on July 4, 2002, involved a loss of 250,000 gallons of crude oil and millions of dollars in cleanup costs.

Be prepared for a chemical incident. If you're in danger of an explosion or breathing in toxic fumes, you'll need to evacuate immediately. If there's no immediate danger, public safety officials will tell you whether to evacuate or stay and shelter-in-place.

  • Go to Get Prepared to create a family communication plan that includes a Stay Plan and a Go Plan (which one you use will depend on type of incident) and build a 1-week emergency supply kit to be ready for a chemical incident.
  • Print the Chemical Incident Checklist (PDF) and discuss this information with your family.

Chemical Incident Resources