Defensive Countermeasures Institute —

Do you have an emergency family plan? If not now is the time to make a plan.

Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance: how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.

Family Emergency Plan

It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members. Everyone call Uncle Mike in California to tell him where we can find you.

Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has coins or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. Remember the olden days when we carried dimes in our penny loafers in case we needed to make a phone call?

You may have trouble getting through, or the telephone system may be down altogether, but be patient.

In the case of a house fire or gas leak, plan to meet at a specific location - such as the big oak tree at a neighbor’s house down the street. This is vitally important because otherwise you may think a family member is still missing and then needlessly charge back into a unstable house to find him.

“Prevention is the daughter of intelligence.” - Sir Walter Raleigh

Shelter in Place is a term you may hear more often as more people prepare for emergencies. It is important to understand what it means - before you actually need it. Below we have provided a general overview as defined by the Red Cross.

What Shelter-in-Place Means

One of the instructions you may be given in an emergency where hazardous materials may have been released into the atmosphere is to shelter-in-place. This is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. (This is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm.) Shelter-in-place means selecting a small, interior room, with no or few windows, and taking refuge there. It does not mean sealing off your entire home or office building. If you are told to shelter-in-place, follow the instructions provided in this Fact Sheet.

Why You Might Need to Shelter-in-Place

Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by local authorities on television and radio stations on how to protect you and your family. Because information will most likely be provided on television and radio, it is important to keep a TV or radio on, even during the workday. The important thing is for you to follow instructions of local authorities and know what to do if they advise you to shelter-in-place.

How to Shelter-in-Place at Home:

Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.

If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.

Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems.

Close the fireplace damper.

Get your family disaster supplies kit and make sure the radio is working.

Go to an interior room without windows that’s above ground level. In the case of a chemical threat, an above-ground location is preferable because some chemicals are heavier than air, and may seep into basements even if the windows are closed.

Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.

It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition.

Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.

Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room.

Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local officials may call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

Remember that instructions to shelter-in-place are usually provided for durations of a few hours, not days or weeks. There is little danger that the room in which you are taking shelter will run out of oxygen and you will suffocate.