---
kind: "section"
citation: "49 C.F.R. § 220.13"
title: "49"
number: "220.13"
heading: "Reporting emergencies."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/49/220.13"
---

# §220.13. Reporting emergencies.

- (a) Employees shall immediately report by the quickest means available derailments, collisions, storms, wash-outs, fires, obstructions to tracks, and other hazardous conditions which could result in death or injury, damage to property or serious disruption of railroad operations.
- (b) In reporting emergencies, employees shall follow:
  - (1) The procedures of [§ 220.47](/cfr/49/220.47.md) when using a radio; or
  - (2) The procedures specified for reporting emergencies in the railroad's timetables or timetable special instructions, when using another means of wireless communications.
- (c) Employees shall describe as completely as possible the nature, degree and location of the hazard.
- (d) An alternative means of communications capability shall be provided whenever the control center is unattended or unable to receive radio transmissions during a period in which railroad operations are conducted.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 20102-20103, 20103 note, 20107, 21301-21302, 20701-20703, 21304, 21311; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; and 49 CFR 1.89.

### Source

Source: 63 FR 47195, Sept. 4, 1998, unless otherwise noted.