disaster 5th 1108_5th ed 2011 - Homeland Security and Emergency ...

THINK ABOUT SHELTER
Sheltering may take many forms since it depends on the type of disaster or
situation. There may be times where you and your family may need to
“shelter-in-place” meaning you stay put wherever you are (home, school,
work or car) until wicked weather passes or local authorities say it’s okay
to come out. Or, in some cases, your family may have to leave your home
and go to a shelter or mass care facility determined by local officials (like
a high school gym or convention center.)
For example, during a tornado warning you should seek shelter in a basement
or an inside room away from windows. However, during a hazardous
spill or chemical attack you should take shelter in a room above ground and
possibly seal off room to keep gas or fumes from coming in. Or if there’s a
wildfire nearby or a hurricane brewing along the Coast your family may
need to evacuate your home.
Some things you should talk about in advance with family include:
Make a plan - Develop a Family Emergency Plan and Disaster Supplies
Kits for home, car and office / locker (covered on previous pages). Make
sure you include important paperwork, money, etc.
Pick safe rooms - Talk about which room would be best for each type of
disaster that may occur where you live.
Where would we go - Decide in advance where you would go in case you
can’t return home for weeks or months .. or ever. If your home is damaged
or destroyed or you’re forced to leave your home due to on-going threats
(like mudslides or flooding), you will need to find temporary or permanent
living quarters. This could mean staying in a public shelter or hotel, living
with friends or relatives, or renting a home or apartment in the middle of all
the chaos, so discuss several options now. Then, write down those options
and share them with relatives and friends.
Away from home - Learn “shelter-in-place” procedures at work and school
so everyone knows what to expect for each type of disaster or incident.
Also review specific disasters in Section 2 for additional things to think
about and do as it relates to sheltering. For example, fallout and polecovered
trench shelters are covered in the TERRORISM topic. And see
TIPS ON RECOVERING FROM A DISASTER and TIPS ON SHELTER
LIVING DURING OR AFTER AN EMERGENCY at the end of Section 2.
By planning ahead, your family will know where to go and what to do
which can help reduce some fear and anxiety that surrounds a disaster.
24 www.itsadisaster.net or call 1-888-999-4325