Courtesy of The American Red Cross. © 2012 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
Adaptation by __________________________.
Sheltering in Place
In the event that the facility is threatened by severe weather or tornado warning, or that chemical or other
hazardous contaminants are released in to the environment in such quantity and/or proximity to the facility,
authorities and/or the Incident Commander, or designee(s), may determine that is safer to remain indoors
rather than to evacuate employees.
It may also be the determination that in case of any workplace violence it may be appropriate to shelter
in place. The Incident Commander shall announce shelter in place status via the public address
system.
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall immediately close the business. If there are
customers/clients or visitors in the building, they shall be advised to stay in the building for their safety.
Unless there is an imminent threat, employees, customers/clients, and visitors shall call their
emergency contacts to let them know where they are and that they are safe. The Incident Commander,
or designee(s), at the assembly point will remind those gathered of this required action.
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone
answering systems or services. The recording for voice mail or automated attendant shall be changed
to indicate that the business is closed, and that staff and visitors will be remaining in the building until
authorities advise that it is safe to leave.
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), and designated assistants shall quickly lock exterior doors
and close windows, air vents, and fireplace dampers. The Incident Commander, or designee(s), familiar
with the building’s mechanical systems shall turn off, seal, or disable all fans, heating and air
conditioning systems, especially those systems that automatically provide for exchange of inside air
with outside air.
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall gather essential disaster supplies (i.e., battery-powered
radios, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries) and bring them to the shelter-in-place location within the
building. These items are stored the following location <insert location here>.
All employees, customers/clients, and visitors shall move immediately to the shelter-in-place location(s)
within the building. The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall seal all windows, doors, and vents
with plastic sheeting and duct tape.
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall write down the names of everyone in the room, and call
the designated emergency contact outside of the building to report who is in the room, and their
affiliations with the organization (employee, visitor, and/or vendor).
The Incident Commander, or designee(s), shall monitor telephone, radio, television and Internet reports
for further instructions from authorities to determine when it is safe to leave the building.