Extreme cold weather creates a significant cold weather challenge for hazardous materials response. When chemical spills, chemical releases, or vapor threats occur in cold-weather environments, traditional decontamination methods—especially water-based decontamination—can become ineffective or unsafe.
Dry decontamination in cold weather provides an alternative approach that supports emergency decontamination when freezing risk and ambient conditions limit conventional options.
This blog summarizes what was shared publicly through HazmatNation and provides operational context based on FAST-ACT’s experience supporting emergency preparedness and response across transportation, industrial, and healthcare environments.
In December 2025, the White House issued an executive order designating illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemicals as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). This designation reflects a growing federal acknowledgment that fentanyl is not only a driver of the opioid crisis, but also a serious hazardous materials threat to first responders, including law enforcement, fire,… Continue reading Fentanyl Decontamination and Responder Safety: Why Federal Designation Matters for First Responders
When a material is unknown, delaying action can increase exposure risk, allow contamination to spread, and endanger both responders and the public. An effective emergency response plan must account for this reality and prioritize immediate hazard reduction alongside identification efforts.
This month, FAST-ACT continued advancing chemical preparedness through demonstrations and follow-up engagements with emergency response and military units.
This November, the FAST-ACT team continued its commitment to advancing chemical preparedness and CBRN defense through nationwide engagement and collaboration. From Charleston to Los Angeles and Fort Campbell, FAST-ACT and its partners showcased how dry decontamination technology enhances operational readiness and response efficiency across military, emergency, and defense sectors.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has launched an investigation into the October 10, 2025 explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee, where 24,000–28,000 pounds of explosive material detonated, killing 16 workers and damaging the industrial chemical facility. Early findings suggest the blast began during heating operations and triggered secondary detonations in nearby storage areas. The incident underscores the ongoing need for robust chemical safety measures, emergency planning, and readiness for large-scale chemical incidents.
Across Level 1 trauma centers in the U.S., Sweden, Canada, and Singapore, teams now deploy combined decontamination methods—a hybrid model proven to improve outcomes, optimize speed, and reduce risks from hazardous chemicals. This approach aligns with hospital emergency preparedness standards that prioritize rapid, safe, and patient-centered decontamination workflows.
This blog will explain the scale and stakes of these events, highlight why chemical decontamination and decontamination methods are essential to safety, and reaffirm how FAST-ACT’s solutions merge with personal protective equipment (PPE) and multiagency workflow to deliver readiness, efficiency, and confidence.
During a mass casualty incident involving chemical agents or hazardous materials, every second counts. Hospitals must act quickly to protect patients, staff, and infrastructure while maintaining operations within the hospital environment. Traditional wet decontamination systems, which rely on large volumes of water and extended setup, can slow down an emergency response when speed is critical. … Continue reading Hospital Dry Decontamination: A Faster, More Efficient Approach to Emergency Response
