Shelter-in-Place Fact Sheet

A sudden emergency involving chemicals, or hazardous materials, can force emergency officials to ask you to take immediate action to protect yourselves and your families. Sheltering-in-place means protecting yourself where you are and remaining in place until given further instructions or emergency officials give the all clear. If you are asked to shelter-in-place,
do the following:

• Remain calm.
• Go inside if you are outdoors.
• Do not call 911 unless you are reporting an immediate life-threatening situation.
• Children in schools or day care centers will take shelter where they are located and will stay indoors.
• Close all windows and doors. Tape cracks for extra protection.
• Close all vents on cooling, heating or ventilating systems.
• Cover cracks under doors with damp towels.
• If you have a fireplace, put out the fire and close the damper.
• Tape cracks and other openings such as electrical outlets and cable outlets.
• Move to an interior room or hallway with no windows or doors to the outside.
• Keep pets indoors.
• Listen carefully to a portable radio for instructions from emergency officials.
• If you are in a car, close windows and vents.
• Don’t come out unless told to do so by radio, TV, news, or emergency officials