A chemical was spilled due to the crash, and HFD explained it’s because the tank was hauling 44,000 pounds of zinc chloride. This, the public information officer said, is used as a condensing agent, disinfectant, dehydrating agent, wood preservative, and deodorant.

Some neighborhoods have sirens for residents to shelter in place during chemical emergencies. But shouldn't a shelter-in-place emergency be treated as such regardless of the emergency?