The Roanoke Valley Regional Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team was established in 1981 and is one of 13
regional teams in Virginia. It is a full-service team comprised of 36
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) trained responders
with equipment and training to handle chemical/biological hazards.
The team has responded to incidents ranging from an anhydrous ammonia
spill at a fixed facility and anthrax threats to railway and highway
wrecks. As a regional team, the response area includes the City of
Roanoke, as well as the area from Lexington to Henry County (north/south) and
Bedford County to Wythe County (east/west), and all areas
in-between.
Primary coverage is the Roanoke Valley, where there
are more than 100 businesses that manufacture, store, or ship hazardous
materials and/or waste. With a Regional Airport, 2 interstate highways,
3 state highways, regional hubs for 3 commercial carriers, and a
national railroad, the Roanoke Valley had the 3rd-highest potential for a
hazardous materials incidents in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The HazMat Team is proud of its heritage and response history and is
continually striving to provide the highest professional response to the
Roanoke Valley.
