Chemical Incidents

In a chemical incident, or declaration of Operation Merlin – specific advisory messages will be constructed depending on the nature of the incident. Here is a general message that will be communicated to the media at the outside of the declaration of an Operation Merlin incident. In the first instance the Lancashire Constabulary Force Incident Manager will usually notify the media with this message.

Members of the public living within the area of the incident are advised to stay calm, go inside a safe building, close windows, doors, vents and air conditioners, stay inside until they are advised to do otherwise and tune in to BBC Radio Lancashire for further information (103.9FM 95.5FM or 104.5FM)

Motorists in the vicinity are asked to keep all windows and doors closed and turn of any air conditioning or vents.

As the incident unfolds, further advisory messages may be required, most of which will be led by the Local Authority emergency planning team:

Motorists are urged to head upwind and if possible move onto higher ground.

The public may be asked to prepare for evacuation but not to do anything unless they are specifically advised to move by the authorities in charge. Special attention must be paid to reassuring them that this will be for safety reasons only and that the emergency services are doing all they can to help keep them safe.

If evacuation is required, special attention must be paid to reassuring people that it is for their own safety and that we will do all we can to keep them safe and up-to-date with information.

In the event of an evacuation, the public should be asked to only pack essential belongings, such as; clothes, medicine, baby supplies, a portable radio, torches, and money. Advice on pets will be required.