Shelter-in-Place
Sometimes the safest move is to stay inside rather than evacuate. Shelter-in-place means going to a safe interior space and staying there until officials or your emergency coordinator say it’s safe. It’s used for chemical releases, severe weather and some security threats.
- Everyone
When you might shelter in place
| Emergency | Where to shelter |
|---|---|
| Chemical or gas release outside | An interior room, above ground level if possible (many gases are heavier than air), with few windows |
| Tornado | A storm shelter, basement, or small interior room on the lowest floor. See Tornadoes |
| Wildfire smoke | Indoors with doors and windows closed and filtered air. See Wildfire Smoke |
| Active threat | Lock or barricade doors, silence phones, stay out of sight. See Workplace Violence |
Chemical release: how to shelter
- Get everyone inside right away, including workers outdoors and visitors.
- Close and lock all windows and outside doors.
- Turn off fans, heating and air conditioning, and close fireplace dampers and vents.
- Go to the chosen interior room with water, a radio or phone, and a first aid kit.
- If told to, seal gaps around doors and vents with plastic sheeting and duct tape.
- Take a head count and report it to the emergency coordinator.
- Listen for official updates. Don’t leave until told it’s safe, then open windows and ventilate.
Don’t drive into a cloud. If you’re in a vehicle during a chemical release and can’t get indoors, close the windows and vents, turn off the fan, and listen for instructions.
Planning at work
- Shelter rooms chosen and marked for each building and trailer
- A distinct alarm or announcement for shelter-in-place (different from evacuation)
- Someone assigned to shut down HVAC systems
- Shelter kit: water, radio, flashlight, plastic sheeting, duct tape, first aid kit
- A way to account for everyone, including visitors and contractors
- Plan included in the emergency action plan and practiced. See Emergency Action Plans
Get the alerts
Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts on your phone, sign up for local alerts, and keep a weather radio at the site. Plants that handle hazardous chemicals often have their own community notification systems.
Standards & references
- Ready.gov: Shelter
- See also: Family Emergency Plan
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