Disaster Preparedness Guide: How to "Shelter-In-Place" During an Emergency

You never know when you will be faced with the unknown! We are taught from infancy that "planning" for events and mile-stones are an essential part of life. Indoctrinated from the crib, and reinforced through out each stage of our lives, we implement plans for our future marriage, education, children, homes, retirement and death. We buy insurance to protect our assets and investments; however, most of us don't have an emergency plan to save the lives of our loved ones during a disaster. Most people think they have all the bases covered, until disaster strikes and they find out, too late, that they were not adequately prepared!

In the event of a natural disaster you local authorities will implement public disaster plans. In the past, we have witnessed that it is not wise to put our full trust in an unpredictable aftermath; therefore it is wise to prepare, in advance, to protect and provide for your family's immediate safety and welfare. This Guide is designed to help you establish and implement your own personal Family Disaster Preparedness Plan. It will give you the knowledge and tools necessary to protect your family during and after the event.

Disaster Preparedness Plan Goals

1) Be prepared to save yourself and your family's lives during a natural disaster, code "red" or terrorist alert.

2) Establish a plan that will allow you to survive the disaster and then be self-sufficient during the clean-up and rescue operation.

What to do during a Tornado or Hurricane

First, you must evacuate the area if you are instructed to leave. It is wise to have an evacuation travel route planned out in advance. Most local government websites will have a map of the most desirable evacuation routes posted for your convenience. You should print out a main route and keep it in your Disaster Preparedness Kit. When the time comes, you should evacuate as far away from the pending event as possible; however, if you can't leave the area you should try to reach a local disaster shelter. If you must remain where you are, the first thing you should do is to turn off the gas supply and go to the center of the building you are in. Get as many walls as you can between you and the outside. Protect yourself from flying glass and structural debris from damaged walls, glass doors and roofs. Get under or behind supportive furniture such as a desk or mattresses. Surround yourself with as many pillows and/or blankets as you can amass. Make sure you have a battery operated radio or TV and listen for governmental instructions and the conditions caused by the disaster.

What to do during a Hazardous Material or Lethal Chemical Disaster

In rare cases, there may be a disaster that affects the air we breathe. An example of such a disaster would be a hazardous materials accident where a potentially lethal chemical may have been released into the atmosphere. During this type of disaster, you most likely will be asked to stay where you are and prepare to "Shelter In Place". It is imperative that your take all precautionary measures necessary to survive until it is safe to breathe the outside air again.

"Sheltering" is not the same thing as going to a local emergency shelter in case of a storm!It means you select a small, interior room, with no windows and take refuge there. You would seal yourself in with your "Disaster Kit" and supplies until it is safe to leave the premises. It does not mean you need to seal off your entire home or office building. If the event is chemical in nature, you need to go to the highest level interior room in the building to get away from the gases. If the event is a tornado, hurricane or nuclear event, then you need to go to the safest lower level. Should one of these disasters occur, information will be provided by local authorities via television and radio so it is important to keep a TV or radio on throughout the day.

How to "Shelter In Place" at Work

Close and lock all doors and bring everyone into the interior. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the business is closed and that staff and visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave. Close and lock all windows, exterior doors and any other openings to the outside. Next, turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems and make sure they are sealed and disabled. If there is time, ask employees, customers, clients and visitors to call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe.

Take your Disaster Preparedness Kit and supplies into your shelter room. Your kit should contain all essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting and plastic garbage bags. Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit or lay down in. If you can, use your large storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without exterior windows. Consider using the restrooms as your shelter as they will have water and facilities in case you are instructed to stay inside for an extended time period. Do not select a room with mechanical equipment like ventilation blowers or pipes, because this equipment may not be able to be sealed from the outdoors.

If at all possible, make sure you have a hard-wired telephone in your room. Call emergency contacts and then stay off the phone so it will be available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. It is not wise to count on Cellular telephone equipment because local service providers may be overwhelmed or towers damaged during an emergency. Next, use heavy duty utility plastic sheeting and duct tape to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room. It is advisable to write down the names of everyone in the room and call your business' designated emergency contact (outside your local area) to report who is in the room with you and why they were in your office at the time of the disaster. if necessary, have everyone get under heavy furniture so they can protect themselves from falling or flying debris. Listen to the radio or television until you are told it is safe to leave or you are told to evacuate.

How to Shelter In at Home

You can modify the Shelter at Work plan to meet your needs if you are at home or at school. If you are at home, take your pets into the room with you and bring extra water, food and newspaper for them. If you can shelter in a bathroom, it will be much more convenient in case you have to remain closed in for an extended period of time. If you are in a car, pull over immediately and go into the nearest building, home or shelter you see. It is imperative you get out of the car if at all possible! You will need to prepare "Emergency Preparedness" kits for your home, car and workplace.

Please don't take your safety for granted! Preparing for the unknown disaster may seem overwhelming to you now, but it is as necessary a step in planning for your future as the other measures of prevention you have implemented. With a little forethought, you can have peace of mind that all the necessities are in place to protect and provide for your loved ones.

For more information please see the links below or check out your local health department and the Center for Disease Control websites.