If officials tell you to Shelter In Place, you must stay indoors.
Put together a Shelter in Place Kit
- Include enough supplies for at least three days, in case you cannot leave your home.
How to Shelter in Place
- Stay calm and go indoors immediately.
- Go to a room with few doors or windows. Ideally, the room should be above street level, allow room for everyone in your family, have access to water and bathroom facilities, and have a phone jack.
- Close and lock all windows and doors, and close fireplace dampers.
- Only seal doors and windows when told to do so by emergency officials. If instructed, cover cracks along doors and windows with tape, wet rags, or towels.
- Turn off all heating and cooling systems such as air conditioners and window exhaust fans, if instructed.
- Listen to KYW 1060 AM radio for updates.
- Keep your pets with you.
- If you have a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 to let the Police and Fire Departments know you need
special help. - Keep your phone line available for emergency calls.
Items for your Shelter in Place Kit
- Three gallons of drinking water per person
- Food that will not perish easily; ready-to-eat foods
- Manual can opener and eating utensils (forks, spoons, knives, plates, cups)
- Plastic sheeting to cover windows; scissors and duct tape
- First-aid kit
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- Battery-operated radio and extra batteries (You can also buy wind-up radios that do not require batteries.)
- A whistle to signal for help
- Iodine tablets or one quart of unscented bleach and an eyedropper. (Disinfect water ONLY if directed to do so by health officials. To disinfect water with bleach, add 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water.)
- Personal care items: soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, feminine products, toilet paper and wipes
- Phone that does not need electricity (just plugs into a phone jack)
- Child care supplies or other special care items
Officials will notify you on KYW 1060 AM when the emergency is over. Only then should you open all doors and windows to let fresh air into your home.