Shelter in Place

Definition

Sheltering in place procedures are traditionally utilized when:

1. A tornado has been spotted.
2. There has been a chemical or biological incident outside of, but in proximity to, a facility and available information indicates that there is no adequate time to evacuate building occupants to a safe location before the dangerous contaminants reach the facility.

Objective- seek immediate shelter away from doors and windows and remain there during an emergency

Staff Response

1. All staff who are outdoors should quickly gather all students and adults in the area and instruct them to go inside the facility immediately. Once inside, if possible instruct everyone to move to an interior area without windows and doors.
2. Close all windows and doors.
3. In chemical spills / biological incident – if available, use tape to cover all windows and doors with sheets of plastic to help reduce airflow into the area. Wet towels can be used to reduce airflow under doors. Close all outside air vents. Turn off all heating or ventilation systems. Use damp towels or cloths to cover any openings in walls or doors. Tape can also be used to cover any cracks, crevices, electrical outlets, cable television connections or other openings that might allow air to flow into the shelter area.
4. Listen to local radio or television news for instructions from emergency management and public safety officials.
5. Review emergency evacuation protocols