Shelter-in-place

Shelter-in-Place orders are issued when it is safer for you to be sheltered indoors than for you to evacuate. There are several types of emergencies that warrant a shelter-in-place response: severe inclement weather, a hazardous chemical/substance emergency, or criminal activity outside the building. Emergency Response personnel will direct the command to shelter-in-place or evacuate depending upon the type and severity of the emergency.

General sheltering instructions
  • Administration or HCC Police initiates shelter-in-place procedures.
  • Ensure all appropriate persons are inside buildings or rooms.
  • If possible, account for all persons in your designated area.
  • Close doors and windows, if possible.
  • Keep all persons away from exposed windows and doors.
  • All persons are to remain in the secured area until “all clear” is declared by emergency personnel.

 

Severe weather shelter-in-place
  • Seek shelter in an interior room on the lowest-floor possible.
  • Stay away from windows.
  • Get underneath a sturdy table or object and hold on.
  • Turn on a battery-powered radio and tune it to local radio or use your smartphone to find information from official sources.
  • Close windows and window blinds.
  • DO NOT open windows or doors ahead of sheltering.

 

Hazardous material shelter-in-place
  • Close all windows and doors.
  • Turn off all air-conditioning and heating systems.
  • Seek shelter in an interior room with the fewest doors possible.
  • Use plastic sheeting and duct tape to create cover all doors, windows and vents in the space with at least two inches of space around the edge.
  • Turn on a battery-powered radio and tune it to local radio or use your smartphone to find information from official sources.
  • When the all-clear is given by local authorities, open all windows and doors and air-out the structure, unless told to do otherwise.