Suitable Areas for Storm Sheltering

Taking shelter is often a critical element in protecting yourself and your household in times of disaster. Sheltering can take several forms. In-place sheltering is appropriate when conditions require that you seek protection in your home, place of employment, or other location where you are located when disaster strikes. In-place sheltering may either be short-term, such as going to a safe room for a fairly short period while a tornado warning is in effect or while a chemical cloud passes. It may also be longer-term, as when you stay in your home for several days without electricity or water services following a winter storm. We also use the term “shelter” for Mass Care facilities that provide a place to stay along with food and water to people who evacuate following a disaster.The appropriate steps to take in preparing for and implementing short-term in-place sheltering depend entirely on the emergency situation.

Checklist for Identifying Suitable Areas for Storm Sheltering 

Checklist in PDF Format

This checklist is provided in order to assist individuals in identifying suitable areas for sheltering during a sever weather event such as severe thunderstorm or tornado. This checklist does not guarantee that injury or loss of life will not occur. Sever Thunderstorms and Tornadoes often occur with little or no warning and produce violent and unpredictable consequences.

Sheltering Do’s

• Do put as many walls between you and the storm as possible.
  • Rooms below ground level are preferred.
  • Interior rooms on the ground floor are ok if no below ground rooms exist.
    
• Do choose locations that have no windows.
• Do choose locations that do not contain dangerous debris.
  • Dangerous debris may include paper cutters, file cabinets, lockers, book shelves, vending machines etc. that are not anchored down, glass and/or breakable objects.
• Do choose locations that exist in the interior of the building.
• Do choose locations that have supported walls and ceilings.

Some locations that can be considered for sheltering are as follows:

• Basements
• Restrooms
• Locker Rooms
• Closets
• Hallways

Sheltering Don'ts

• Don't identify in rooms that are routinely locked.
• Don't identify rooms that are large with high ceilings.
• Don't identify rooms with glass windows, trophy cases or skylights.
• Don't identify a room or closet that is full of debris, hazardous chemicals or utilities.
• Don't identify an area that is difficult to access by individuals with special physical needs.
• Don't identify an area that is exposed to the outside.

Some locations to avoid considering for sheltering are as follows:

• Gymnasiums
• Auditoriums
• Janitorial supply closets
• Computer closets
• Libraries
• Loading Docks
• Utility Tunnels