First, you need to report it. If you see, smell or suspect an oil spill or any type of petroleum release in or near your home, call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Spill Hotline immediately at 1-800-457-7362 to report the spill.

 

Second, if the smell of oil is strong in your living space, the indoor air quality is probably not healthy, especially for people with respiratory or cardiovascular disease, pregnant women, young children or elderly people in the house. If you can, temporarily relocate with family or friends until the spill is cleaned up. If you can't, then take these steps to control odors:

 

  • Keep all doors, stairways, laundry chutes, etc. between the basement and living space closed. Stairways between the basement and the first floor living space that do not have a closable door should be partitioned off with a sheet of plastic.
  • Avoid tracking oil inside the home. Do not wear any shoes in the living space that may have been contaminated with oil.
  • Use fans.EXHAUST BASEMENT AREAS by BLOWING AIR OUT of basement through a single window, with no other basement windows open. If the only opening to the outdoors is a walkout basement door, then a large fan should be placed in the doorway, blowing out. If possible, block or reduce the open space around fans (shroud) to increase the fan's effectiveness. Any windows near the basement exhaust air should be kept closed to prevent contaminated air from re-entering the home.
    • FANS USED IN THE LIVING SPACE should BLOW OUTDOOR AIR IN.
    • Use caution when operating central heating or central air conditioning systems as these could further distribute odors and possibly spread oil into the system.

In some cases, emergency relocation funding is available if oil odors persist after recovery from the flood effects. In New York State, oil tank owners may be legally responsible for costs associated with oil spill cleanups, so if your oil tank was the source of the spill, you would not be eligible for relocation assistance. If your home was affected by an oil spill from a source other than your own oil tank or if you are a renter, you may be eligible for relocation assistance. For more information, contact the New York State Department of Health at 800-458-1158