What to Do When Told to Shelter-In-Place
You may be instructed to shelter-in-place. This means you should immediately go inside the nearest available building. If you are already inside, stay there.
Reduce Exposure to Harmful Radiation:
If a shelter-in-place message is given do the following:
- Go inside and close all doors and windows.
- Turn off all window fans, clothes dryers, kitchen and bath exhaust fans, air conditioners, and other sources of outside air.
- Go to basement or lowest level possible.
- Go to an interior space.
- Stay away from all windows – glass will not protect you.
- If you must be in a room with windows, sit on floor – below window level.
- Bring a radio with you. Listen to your Emergency Alert System radio station WATD 95.9 FM, WBMX 98.5 FM, WPLM 99.1 FM or 1390 AM.
- Keep pets indoors. If you have livestock, shelter them too.
- Stay inside until officials say otherwise. If you must go outside, cover your nose and mouth with a 3 M type mask or folded damp cloth and cover all exposed skin.
Car Shelter:
If you are traveling by motor vehicle in an affected area, close the windows and air vents.
Your car provides little protection, seek shelter inside a building.
Public Shelters:
If the call is to shelter and you are home, you should stay there. If you are away from home go to the nearest shelter.
Duxbury’s shelters are: When schools are not in session: Duxbury High School, Duxbury Middle School, Alden School, Chandler Elementary School; Duxbury Library, and Wright Building.
During school hours do not use the main portion of the schools as public shelters. The doors will be locked. We do not want to contaminate the school population by opening and shutting doors.
Exception: The new Alden Gymnasium has a separate entrance and therefore may be used by the public at all times.
School Shelters:
If sheltering-in-place is recommended during school hours, children will be sheltered right in the school building, in spaces analyzed for maximum dose reduction.
Schools will be locked until officials cancel the shelter-in-place emergency call.
Prepare ahead of time:
Familiarize your family with the location of Duxbury’s Public Shelters.
Prepare a kit and store it in your home shelter location – water, batteries, flashlight, portable radio, 3M type masks, potassium iodide (KI).
Discuss emergency plans with all members of your family so everyone knows what to do.
Facts:
Environmental Protection Agency Guidance on Sheltering (EPA 400-R-92-001, pages 2-3).
Wood Frame House (first floor): 10% dose reduction.
Wood Frame House (basement): 40% reduction dose.
Masonry house: 40% reduction in dose.
Office or industrial building: 80% or better reduction in dose.
DO NOT use your telephone unless you need special assistance.