This entry was posted on Thursday, May 7th, 2009 at 8:23 am and is filed under Emergency Preparedness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Shelter in Place is the practice of going or remaining indoors in the event of a sudden emergency. This is done as opposed to evacuating the area, something that might be found necessary due to the release of an airborne hazardous material, or, in the case of schools and offices, when confronted with armed intruders.
In other words, evacuation is not always an option. For that reason part of our emergency preparedness planning should also include the possible need to stay indoors, perhaps in a single room which could quickly be made ready to seal us away from deadly fumes or smoke — airborne pollutants that could quickly overcome anyone remaining outdoors and unprotected.
Have on hand duct tape and plastic sheeting that could be used to seal non-airtight windows. Use that same tape to seal the cracks around doors. Have water on hand, not only for drinking, but for soaking a large towel that could be used to block the airspace below those doors.
In case the danger persists for more than one or two hours, it would also benefit you to have a bit of food and drinking water readily available. Emergency toilet faciltities might also be in order. Prepare your own supplies, or see what is commercially available. Shelter in Place kits do exist.
You should also research the subject. Be aware of what dangers might exist in your particular community. It may never happen, but it never hurts to be prepared.