Shelter-In-Place

Shelter-In-Place

Shelter-in-place is a method in which you use your own house or apartment as a shelter in an emergency. Shelter-In-Place is often safer than evacuation in certain emergencies. Local government officials and or church officials may recommend that you Shelter-In-Place in an emergency, so it’s important to understand what in means when you are asked to do it. These emergencies can include but are not limited to the follow types…

• Severe Storms, Wildfires, or Tornadoes.
• Extreme life threatening temperatures (cold or heat) which may happen during power outage.
• A violent public disturbance.
• Explosives, whether intentional or accidental. Chemical or biological contaminants released accidentally or intentionally into the air.

During the most recent California Wildfires, On-campus students at PepperdineUniversity were asked to Shelter-In-Place in one of the on-campus buildings. When there is a power outage, most naturally shelter-in-place in their homes because of inclement weather.

There are two types of shelter-in-place; 1) "no seal" & 2) "seal" shelter-in-place. A "No Seal” shelter-in-place is when you go inside, lock doors and windows and listen for further instructions from the outside with an emergency radio (weather and/or news). While inside, use your 72 hour kit or 3 month supply for your needs until the emergency is over. A "Seal" Shelter-In-Place is used when there is a Biological, Radiological or Chemical Emergency. In this type of shelter in place, people should do the following...

• Locking Doors & Windows
• Sealing Doors & Windows
• Sealing outside vents
• Turning off fans, air conditioning, and forced air heating systems
• Keep your 72 Hour kit handy.

The second form is far more rare, but its good to know what the different types of shelter-in-place are so that when officials talk about them, we will know what they mean.