Introduction...

In the event of a natural disaster  the local, state and federal authorities will implement their Disaster Plans.  This web page is designed to help you establish and implement your own Personal Disaster Family Plan.  This preparedness plan will give you the knowledge and tools necessary to protect your family during and after the disaster event. 

   The Goals of this Disaster Preparedness Plan are:  

1.      For you to be prepared in advance of a natural disaster such as a hurricane,  tornado, flood, or nuclear event, by taking the necessary measures to save you and your family's lives.  

2.    To help you establish a plan that will allow you to survive the disaster event and then be self-sufficient during the clean-up and rescue operation time period.

What to do during the Disaster Event:   

DURING  A TORNADO or HURRICANE:   

1. Evacuate the area if you are instructed to leave.  If you can not leave the area, then try to reach a local disaster shelter.
2. If you must remain where you are,  turn off your gas supply and then go to the center of the building you are in. Get as many walls as you can between you and the outside.

3. Protect yourself from flying glass and structural debris from damaged walls, glass doors and roofs.  Get under or behind supportive furniture.

4. Don’t get electrocuted or ignite a gas explosion! Beware of electrical wires, water pipes and/or gas lines. 

5. Turn on your battery operated radio/TV and listen for governmental instructions and the conditions caused by the tornado/hurricane.

What does "Sheltering In Place" mean?

Some disasters require you to remain where you are and take all precautionary measures necessary to survive until it is safe to breath the outside air again. An example of a "Shelter In Place" disaster would be a hazardous materials accident where a potentially lethal chemical may have been released into the atmosphere. Having you prepare for and remain where you are located would be a precaution aimed to keep you safe by remaining indoors. *** "Sheltering in place"  is not the same thing as going to a shelter in case of a storm! *** It means you select a small, interior room, with no (or few) windows, and take refuge there. You would seal yourself in with your disaster kit and supplies until it was safe to leave the premises. It does not mean you would need to seal off your entire home or office building. 

When might you need to "Shelter In Place"?

Examples of disasters that would require "Sheltering In" would be chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants that may have been released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should one of these disasters occur, information would  be provided by local authorities (via television and radio stations)  on how to protect you and your family. Because information will most likely be provided via television and radio, it is important to keep a TV or radio on, even during the workday. It is  important that you follow instructions of local authorities and know what to do if they advise you to "Shelter in Place".

Instruction on how to "Shelter In Place":

If you are 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 disaster supply 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.

If you are at Work...

• Close and lock the business.
• Bring everyone into the room(s). Shut and lock the door(s).
• If there are customers, clients or visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay, not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are and not drive or walk outdoors.
• Unless there is an imminent threat, ask employees, customers, clients and visitors to call their emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe.
• Turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone answering systems or services. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the business is closed and that staff and visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave.
• Close and lock all windows, exterior doors and any other openings to the outside.
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains.
• Have employees familiar with your building's mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air—these systems in particular need to be turned off, sealed or disabled.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting and plastic garbage bags.
• Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Large storage closets, utility rooms, pantries, copy and conference rooms without exterior windows will work well. Avoid selecting a room with mechanical equipment like ventilation blowers or pipes, because this equipment may not be able to be sealed from the outdoors.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts 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(s) and any vents into the room.
• Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your business' designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you, and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer.)
• Keep listening to the 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.

If you are at School...

• Close the school. Activate the school's emergency plan. Follow reverse evacuation procedures to bring students, faculty and staff indoors.
• If there are visitors in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay, not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are and not drive or walk outdoors.
• Provide for answering telephone inquiries from concerned parents by having at least one telephone with the school's listed telephone number available in the room selected to provide shelter for the school secretary, or person designated to answer these calls. This room should also be sealed. There should be a way to communicate among all rooms where people are sheltering-in-place in the school.
• Ideally, provide for a way to make announcements over the school-wide public address system from the room where the top school official takes shelter.
• If children have cell phones, allow them to use them to call a parent or guardian to let them know that they have been asked to remain in school until further notice and that they are safe.
• If the school has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the school is closed and that students and staff are remaining in the building until authorities advise that it is safe to leave.
• Provide directions to close and lock all windows, exterior doors and any other openings to the outside.
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, direct that window shades, blinds or curtains be closed.
• Have employees familiar with your building's mechanical systems turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems. Some systems automatically provide for exchange of inside air with outside air—these systems in particular need to be turned off, sealed or disabled.
• Gather essential disaster supplies, such as nonperishable food, bottled water, battery-powered radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, duct tape, plastic sheeting and plastic garbage bags.
• Select interior room(s) above the ground floor, with the fewest windows or vents. The room(s) should have adequate space for everyone to be able to sit in. Avoid overcrowding by selecting several rooms if necessary. Classrooms may be used if there are no windows or the windows are sealed and can not be opened. Large storage closets, utility rooms, meeting rooms and even a gymnasium without exterior windows will also work well.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts 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.
• Bring everyone into the room. Shut and lock the door.
• Use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal all cracks around the door(s) and any vents into the room.
• Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your school's designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you.
• Listen for an official announcement from school officials via the public address system, and stay where you are 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.

If you are  in your Vehicle...

If you are driving a vehicle and hear advice to "shelter in place" on the radio, take these steps:

• If you are very close to home, your office or a public building, go there immediately and go inside. Follow the shelter-in-place recommendations for the place you pick described above.
• If you are unable to get to a home or building quickly and safely, then pull over to the side of the road. Stop your vehicle in the safest place possible. If it is sunny outside, it is preferable to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot to avoid being overheated.
• Turn off the engine.
• Close windows and vents.
• If possible, seal the heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape.
• Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions.
• Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road. Be aware that some roads may be closed or traffic detoured. Follow the directions of law enforcement officials.

Your local officials are the best source of information for your particular situation. Following their instructions during and after the emergency event  regarding sheltering, food, water and clean up methods.

If you are told to shelter in place, it will probably only last for the duration of a few hours, not days or weeks. Do not be alarmed regarding the oxygen in the room for there is little danger that the room in which you are sheltering will run out of oxygen.