Shelter-In-Place may sometimes also be called In-Place-Protection or other terms. If you hear us at Estill County CSEPP or any of the other communities in the Bluegrass CSEP Program refer to it we will always call it Shelter-In-Place.
Sheltering-In-Place has over the last few years received its fair share of jokes and sometimes outright disbelief from certain parties. The facts, however, are that a little forethought into what room you should make your shelter, a quick response, the correct implementation of the shelter-in-place procedures, and exiting the shelter at the correct time can drastically lower the amount of agent you are exposed to in the event that an accident or incident at the Bluegrass Army depot affects your community.
Shelter-In-Place as it would be used in Estill County is a temporary protective measure. Chemical agent such as GB or VX or most other hazardous chemicals in the form of a vapor cloud, for that matter, would eventualy penetrate into each and every room of a standard home as the cloud or plume passes over. As the amount of chemical inside the home rises, the cloud moves and eventually passes over the home. The shelter-in-place techniques slow the penetration of the chemical further into the chosen shelter room. The strategy is to exit the shelter and go outside when the hazard has passed and the amount of hazardous chemical outside is less than the concentration inside the shelter.
After you exit your shelter, you may be asked to stay outside of the home for a while or possibly to relocate temporarily to a mass care shelter that lies in an area unaffected by the hazard until the safety of your home can be verified.
We would only ask you to shelter-in-place in situations where the area you live in would not have time to safely evacuate.
Public safety officials will tell you if shelter-in-place protection is ordered by using the Emergency Alert System (EAS). If persons in your zone are told to begin shelter-in-place protection you should take the following actions.
- Go indoors. Any building suitable for use during the winter is safe for shelter-in-place protection.
- Close all outside windows and doors. Seal with tape and plastic sheeting (If you do not have plastic sheeting, use plastic food wrap, wax paper or aluminum foil.) all cracks, electrical and cable outlets and any other out-side openings. Also seal bathroom exhaust fan grilles, range vents and dryer vents. Place towels or sheets across the bottom of doors and windows.
- Turn off heating and air conditioning systems and attic fans bringing in outside air. Turn off exhaust fans in kitchens, bathrooms and other areas. Close vents and fireplace flues.
- Take a radio or television with you, and move to a central or windowless room. Seal the inside door with tape and plastic, and place wet towels or sheets across the bottom of it.
- Stay tuned to local radio or television EAS station for updated information and instructions.
