This precaution is aimed to keep you and your family safe while remaining in your home. If you are told to shelter-in-place, take your children and pets indoors immediately. While gathering your family, you can provide a minimal amount of protection to your breathing by covering your mouth and nose with a damp cloth. Then take the following precautions:

• Close all windows in your home
• Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems
• Close the fireplace damper
• Go to an above ground room (not the basement) with the fewest windows and doors
• Take your family disaster supply kit with you
• Wet some towels and jam them in the crack under the doors
• Put tape around doors, windows, exhaust fans or vents
• Use plastic garbage bags to cover windows, outlets and heat registers
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds or curtains
• To avoid injury, stay away from the windows
• Stay in the room and listen to your radio until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate

Authorities may decide to evacuate an area for your protection. Again, it is important to stay calm, listen carefully and follow all instructions. If you are told to evacuate, listen to your radio to make sure the evacuation order applies to you and to understand if you are to evacuate immediately or if you have time to pack some essentials. Do not use your telephone. The telephone lines will be needed for emergency operations.

• Cover all doors, windows and vents with 2-4 mil. thick plastic sheeting.
• Cut the plastic sheeting several inches wider than the openings and label each sheet.
• Duct tape plastic at corners first, then tape down all edges.

Information from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

Updated: December 23, 2004