Definition of Shelter-in-Place

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"Shelter-in-place" means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work,

school or in between—usually for just a few hours. Local authorities may instruct you

to "shelter-in-place" if chemical or radiological contaminants are released into the

environment.

During a Shelter-in-Place

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Close the school. Activate the school's emergency plan. Follow reverse evacuation

procedures to bring students, faculty and staff indoors.

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If visitors are in the building, provide for their safety by asking them to stay.

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Ideally, have access to the school-wide public address system in the room where the

top school official takes shelter.

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Have at least one telephone line under the school's listed telephone number in one of

the shelter rooms available for a designated person to answer the calls of concerned

parents. If time permits, and if it is not possible for a person to monitor the telephone,

activate the school voicemail or an automated attendant. Indicate that the school is

closed and that students and staff are remaining in the building until authorities say it

is safe to leave.

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Have all children, staff and visitors take shelter in pre-selected rooms that have phone

access and stored disaster supplies kits and, preferably, access to a bathroom. Shut

the doors.

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Have all shelter rooms closed. Lock all windows, exterior doors and any other

openings to the outside.

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If told there is danger of explosion, make sure window shades, blinds or curtains are

closed.

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The custodian will manually turn off heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems

one by one.

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If instructed by officials, use duct tape and plastic sheeting to seal all cracks around

the door(s), windows and vents into the room. As much as possible, reduce the flow

of air into the room.

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One teacher or staff member in each room should write down the names of everyone

in the room and use the e-mail lockdown folder to report who is in the room.

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Everyone should stay in the room until school officials, via the public address system,

announce that all is safe to open the doors.

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Once the word has been given that all is safe, everyone should go outside when the

building's ventilation systems are turned back on. Follow any special instructions

given by emergency authorities to avoid chemical and radiological contaminants

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outdoors.