Shelter-in-Place
One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency is to shelter-in-place to protect you from chemical contamination or other outdoor hazards.
If you are told to shelter-in-place:
- Go in… Stay in… Tune in…
- Take your children and pets indoors immediately. (While gathering your family, you can provide a minimal amount of protection to your breathing by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth.)
- Close and lock all windows and exterior doors
- Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems
- Close the fireplace damper
- Go to an above ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors
- Take your Disaster Supplies Kit and a radio with you
- Wet some towels and jam them in the crack under the doors
- Use duct tape to seal the cracks around doors and windows
- Cover any exhaust fans or vents using plastic sheeting or garbage bags
- Listen to your radio or television for further instructions or updates
- Remain inside until you are told it is safe
If in your car:
- Pull over to the side of the road
- Turn off the engine
- Close windows and vents
- If possible, seal the heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape
- Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions
- Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road
Additional Shelter-in-Place information is available from the Red Cross.
