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Safe Shelter

on this page:

What do I do?
What is a shelter?

What do I do?

In an emergency, public safety officials will inform you of what to do. These announcements will come in the form of television and radio bulletins, so make sure your emergency supply kit has a battery-powered radio in it! The bulletins are likely to advise you to do one of three things:

1. Stay put and stay tuned.
   • Gather the family and keep your pets close by.
   • Stay in your home.
   • Keep listening to the radio for further developments.
2. Evacuate if you are told to do so.
   • Grab your emergency supply kit.
   • Gather your family -- anyone who is home (including pets).
   • If You Have Time
     • Unplug all appliances, turn off all lights, and shut off the electricity to the house (at the main breaker box). This prevents damage to electrical appliances due to power surges.
     • Shut off your home's water supply at the main water valve. This prevents floodwater or sewage from entering your home through the pipes.
     • If there is a flood coming, move furniture and valuables to a higher floor.
     • Call someone out of town to tell them where you are going and when you expect to get there.
     • Shut and lock all windows; lock the doors.
     • Follow evacuation instructions given by local officials. Sometimes, they will instruct you to go to a nearby shelter.
3. Shelter in Place (usually only in hazardous materials or bioterror incidents):
   • how to Shelter in Place

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What is a shelter?

A shelter is a place people can go in an emergency to find food, get out of the weather, and have a place to sleep. Most emergency shelters are located in familiar buildings, like schools, and are run by the American Red Cross. Trained volunteers make up the staff of a shelter. These volunteers will work with you in a variety of ways:

• Registration, both to keep track of how many people are in the shelter, and also in case someone calls the shelter looking for you!
• Assigning you and your family a living space in the shelter, with cots and blankets.
• Serving meals, usually cafeteria-style.
• Letting you know what the shelter rules are.

In addition, the following services may also be available in the shelter:

• Medical care
• Counseling
• Volunteer opportunities. Often, the shelter's staff will have jobs that need to be done. They might ask you if you'd be willing to help out.
• Financial assistance. If necessary, the Red Cross can help you plan your recovery and offer help purchasing food, clothing, or other necessities.

If you need to live at a shelter, try to be as flexible and understanding as you can be. Everyone will be stressed in an emergency, and conflicts may come up. Try to stay "cool," and if a problem isn't easily resolved, contact the shelter staff for help.