It is important to know when it is safer to shelter in place and when to evacuate your home.
In some emergencies, such as a hazardous materials spill, it may be safer to stay where you are, whether it is at home, at your workplace, or in school. Be prepared and pre-identify rooms that may be safe to remain in with minimal exposure to outside air and take shelter in these rooms. In these pre-identified rooms, store plastic sheeting that will fully cover any door, window, vent, or fan opening and duct tape to secure and seal these surfaces.
Be Prepared for Shelter in Place
Tips for Sheltering in Place
- Go inside your home or the closest building to you as quickly as possible
- Close and lock all doors, windows, fireplace vents, or other openings
- Turn off all heating, ventilation, fans, and air conditioning systems
- Close drapes, curtains, and shades, and stay away from external windows
- Get into your pre-identified room and seal it tightly
- Use stairwells where possible – avoid elevators
- Use telephones only if you require immediate emergency service
- Get out your emergency kit
- Turn on your radio to a local station for information updates – this is the best resource for information updates as Emergency Services will communicate this way
- Thoroughly air out your home once the emergency is over
When Sheltering in place DO NOT:
- Call your children’s school or try and pick up your children – they will likely be under a Shelter in Place order and may be safer in the school than driving in a car through a hazardous area
- Risk your safety for your pets. If they cannot be found immediately, shelter in place without them
- Leave your building or home until you receive notification that the danger has passed