Shelter In Place

WHY WE NEED TO KNOW THIS.  Things happen which are out of our control, so "sheltering in place" is required. Click HERE for a historical perspective.

FOR A CLASS OR OFFICE Exercise/Discussion, please use this document.

HAZARDOUS MATERIAL RELEASE from fires, explosions or chemical spills, or SEVERE WEATHER CONDITION, such as a lightning storm, large hail or tornado:

• Go immediately indoors and close all windows and doors.
• For soot/ash from local fires and chemical spills, close off all air from under doors, or wherever air could seep into the room.
• For tornadoes, seek shelter in the lowest, most inner part of the building.
• For floods, move to upper floors.
• Do not leave your shelter until directed so by authorized personnel.
• Ready.gov has a good diagram of how to seal your space.  Get materials needed at your local Hardware, or Home Improvement store.
• Check out this informative video!

ESCAPING, SHELTERING IN PLACE AND FIGHTING BACK (See ACT video):

• Dangerous situations, such as a person with a gun, bomb or other weapon.
• If the threat is in the area, but NOT NEAR YOU:
• Move AWAY from the area of danger, as quickly as possible.
• If the threat is NEAR YOU and YOU CAN ESCAPE:
• If you know where the threat is and can MOVE AWAY from it, do so as quickly as possible.  RUN, if necessary.
• If the threat is near you and you CAN (SAFELY) LOCK THE DOOR:
• Move into an area in which you can LOCK THE DOOR.
• Turn off the lights and silence off all electronic devices
• Hide behind furniture and be a quiet as possible.
• Wait for University Police to release you from your position.
• If you CANNOT (SAFELY) LOCK THE DOOR nor ESCAPE:
• HERE IS THE A.C.T. VIDEO of how students can disarm a threat (8.5 minutes long, and worth it.)
• Set up teams to disarm the threat:
• Two to five persons (Attack Team) should be just inside the door to knock down the weapon and push the shooter to the floor and disarm.
• Set a table up on its side by the door to block a clear view of the room from the door.
• Set a chair or desk by the door to slow the approach and help trip the attacker, then darken the room as much as possible.
• As the attacker enters, throw something to the opposite side of the room to distract the shooter from the Attack Team's location.
• Other persons in the room should stay away from the entrance "line of sight" to avoid gunfire.
• BARRICADING:  This can be tricky, as it works two ways: It hinders someone getting in, but it also hinders getting out.  Barricades are large, heavy objects (stacked chairs, desks, tables, cabinets) which block access.  Note: Because most campus rooms follow fire codes and open by the door swinging OUT, not in, barricading can be challenging.
• Do everything you can to survive until University Police respond.
• When Police enter the room, follow their instructions carefully.