Every emergency does not mean an evacuation. Sometimes, it is better to shelter in place, either because there is not enough time to evacuate or because it is just safer to stay at home or indoors wherever you are.
When you are advised to shelter in place, it means that you should stay inside or if you are currently outside, find the nearest building where you can stay when a disaster or an emergency occurs.
There are several things that you should do to keep yourself and your family safe while you shelter in place.
Once you are inside, you should find an inside room that contains as few windows and doors as possible. Bring all of your pet inside, too.
You’ll want to close and lock all of your doors and windows to get the tightest seals in your home or shelter. You may also need to turn off your heater or air conditioner and close all ventilation fans and fireplace dampers.
Close the window shades, blinds or curtains, if there is any danger of an explosion or of something cracking your windows.
Make sure that you have a radio or some other contact with the outside world, you you will know when it is safe to leave the shelter, or if you need to evacuate.
You also should learn how to leave, in case you need to avoid hazardous materials or situations, such as chemical spills or fallen power lines.
In addition to some weather-related emergencies, there are three other emergencies that would indicate sheltering in place. These are Chemical, Radiological and Biological emergencies. Each of these emergencies may have their own set of precautions and instructions that need to be undertaken.
Keep in mind, that even if you are told to shelter in place, you most likely will only have to do so for a few hours.
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