How we provide information in an emergency
Emergency responders typically classify emergencies at Sandia to aid in quickly communicating critical information and initiating response actions. These classification levels — Alert, Site Area Emergency, and General Emergency — may appear in official emergency communications.
The following definitions describe the most severe consequences within each classification level and do not indicate actual events or expectations:
- Alert — An Alert, the least severe emergency classification, is an incident that has led or could lead to a release to the environment of radioactive or other hazardous material. Protective action is not expected to be necessary beyond site boundaries. Members of the public are not likely to have to take any action as the result of an alert.
- Site Area Emergency — A Site Area Emergency (SAE) is an incident that has led or could lead to a significant release to the environment of radioactive or other hazardous material. Protective action is not expected to be necessary beyond the site boundary although off-site organizations may choose to take protective actions for the public. Members of the public might need to take action as the result of a site area emergency.
- General Emergency — A General Emergency, the most severe classification, is an event or condition with actual or imminent catastrophic reduction of a facility safety or security systems with potential for the release of large quantities of hazardous materials to the environment. It is expected to produce consequences that may require protective actions for on- and off-site personnel. Some members of the public will likely need to take action as the result of a general emergency.
