Download  Emergency Response Guide for your computer 

REPORTING A SPILL ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Spill Notification Basics for All River Users

WHEN IN DOUBT, NOTIFY!!

ESSENTIAL 24-HOUR NOTIFICATION NUMBERS

On the Upper Mississippi River, notify the state where the spill appears to have originated, or that appears to be most affected.

When in doubt, notify all potentially affected states.

Federal National Response Center     800-424-8802
State Illinois State Duty Officer             217-782-7860
Iowa State Duty Officer                           515-281-8694
Local All Jurisdictions                            911

INFORMATION TO REPORT

Be prepared to provide the following information, if known, when reporting a spill:

You may not have all of this information available. Don’t worry. Simply tell the officials what you know. Do not endanger

yourself or others attempting to obtain more information.

SAFETY FIRST: PROCEED ACCORDING TO YOUR LEVEL OF TRAINING!!

Contact the Upper Mississippi River Basin
Association at 651-224-2880 or visit

www.umrba.org/hazspills.htm 

  Iowa One Call location service now available at 8-1-1 

You no longer have to remember the long 800-number to call before digging in your yard. You can now reach the Iowa One Call system by dialing just 8-1-1. Ben Booth, spokesman for Iowa One Call, says the three-digit number is a lot easier to remember and it's now part of a national system.

 

Booth says, "This abbreviated dialing system, like 9-1-1, will allow callers to simply dial 8-1-1. They'll be connected to the One Call center of the state from which they're calling." It's the law in Iowa. If you'll be digging holes for planting a tree, sinking fence posts or anything else, call the number first.

 

Utility companies will respond and mark on the ground, either with spray-paint or flags, where underground lines are located within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. Booth says: "That helps property owners and professional excavators, anyone planning to do projects that entail digging. That safeguards them as well as safeguarding the

community. You don't want to do something that disrupts essential services to the public."

 

He says if you're shoveling dirt in the back yard on whatever project and strike a gas main or a phone line, it could be a very expensive mistake for you, as the person doing the digging is held responsible for the damage done. Booth says: "Simply severing a telephone line could render the community without use of the telephone system and the 9-1-1 system.

Obviously, the effects are more dramatic if you hit a gas line or an electric line. That can be very harmful and in fact, devastating." For more information, call Iowa One Call at 8-1-1 or log on to www.iowaonecall.com