When you must shelter in place, follow the steps in your disaster preparedness plan and:
- Consider that staff may need to do specific based on the event:
- Earthquake: Drop, cover, and hold on. This means you should drop to the ground, take cover under something sturdy like a table, and hold on until the shaking stops. If there is nothing sturdy available, then cover your head and neck with your hands and arms for protection.
- Tornado: Sit on the floor in a tornado-safe position in a room without windows, ideally, in a basement or cellar. Cover your head. Hold infants close to you and protect their heads.
- Unhealthy air quality: Close windows, doors, and vents.
- Extreme heat or cold: Keep children indoors and keep rooms at a safe temperature using your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
- Power outage: Use your generator according to the manufacturer’s safety instructions.
- Bring the supplies you will need to care for children to the shelter-in-place area that is in your disaster preparedness plan.
- Wait for an “all clear” message from emergency officials before resuming your usual activities.
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Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: June 5, 2025