EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Deciding When to Evacuate Your Apartment
Depending on the circumstances, the first decision is whether to stay
or go. If it is not possible to get information from authorities or news,
we need to use common sense and whatever information is available. If
you have any doubts, stay where you are.
Staying In. In the event of hazardous materials being released
into the air, whether accidentally or intentionally, we may need to "Shelter-in-Place."
This does not mean going to a shelter, but rather, that it may be temporarily
safer to stay indoors. If you see large amounts of debris in the air,
or if authorities say the air is badly contaminated, you may want to stay
inside.
To "Shelter-in-Place", Ready.gov recommends the following:
• Bring your family and pets inside
• Lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers
• Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems
• Take your emergency supply kit unless you have reason to believe
it has been contaminated
• Go into an interior room with few windows, if possible
• Seal all windows, doors and air vents with plastic sheeting and
duct tape. Consider measuring and cutting the sheeting in advance to save
time
• Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to seal
gaps so that you create a barrier between yourself and any contamination
• Local authorities may not immediately be able to provide information
on what is happening and what you should do. However, you should watch
TV, listen to the radio or check the Internet often for official news
and instructions as theybecome available.
Community
/ Preparedness