PS - Safety Center - Hazmat - Shelter In-Place

Develop an emergency plan and make a list of things you will need in an emergency such as medicine and baby food.
Choose a safe room in your house, preferably with few windows and vents which could allow gases or fumes to enter.
Assemble a Shelter-In-Place kit and make sure family members know where the kit is stored.
Practice your emergency plan to see if it will work.
Know how to get information from sources such as the media, public address system, telephone, warning sirens, NOAA radio, or by computer messaging.

Upon notification of an emergency and an order to shelter-in-place quickly assemble your family inside. If you must go outside to gather family members use a wet cloth over you nose and mouth to protect your respiratory system.
If your children are in school DO NOT go to the school to pick them up. School officials know what to do during shelter-in-place events. Stay at home and take shelter!
Don't tie up the phone lines with unneeded calls.
Close and lock all doors and windows in your home.
Turn off and close vents to all fans, heating, and air conditioning systems.
Go to your safe room and do the following:
- Seal gaps and cracks under doors and windows with wet towels or rags.
- Seal gaps around the side and top of windows and doors with duct tape.
- Seal any vents with plastic sheeting, wax paper, or aluminum foil; use duct tape to hold in-place and seal edges of covering.
Monitor emergency information on a TV, battery powered radio or NOAA radio.
Follow instructions given by emergency personnel.
Stay in your safe room until the all clear is given by public officials.

NOTE: More information on Shelter-In-Place procedures may be found at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site.

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