Shelter-In-Place

 

Shelter in place is the best first response in the event of a chemical emergency.  If there is an emergency and your community is ordered to shelter in place, seek shelter and close all doors and windows and follow these easy steps:

  • Move indoors immediately.
  • Close and lock all windows and doors. (Locking provides a tighter seal.)
  • Turn off all heating, cooling and ventilation systems including all window and attic fans.
  • Go into one room of your school, office or home. This room should have a telephone and either a television or radio.
  • Place plastic and duct tape around all doors and windows in the room. Use heavy plastic that is large enough to cover the entire window or door.
  • Plastic drop cloths that are used when painting are good to use for sheltering-in-place emergencies.
  • Place wet towels at the bottom of the door. Keep extra towels available. If you smell a chemical odor, cover your nose and mouth with a wet towel.
  • Stay tuned to your local Emergency Alert System (EAS) stations for further instructions.
  • Stay inside your closed room until you receive an all-clear signal. When you receive that signal, open all doors and windows and go outside until your house or work place is well ventilated.
  • Use the telephone only for emergencies. Unnecessary calls may prevent essential and official calls from getting through to you.