TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3 EMERGENCY COORDINATOR
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY BULLETIN NR 16.49 DATE: December 4, 2016
SUBJECT: WHEN TO SHELTER IN PLACE.
What does "Shelter in Place" mean? This has been a term that is becoming more popular. "Shelter in Place" is a term used to advise the general public to take shelter in case of a Hazardous Material incident that may have released or is releasing a toxic or non-toxic material or chemical into the air.
Most substances that are released into the air due to an accident are not deadly, even though they may smell bad. It has been proven that it is safer to stay where you are, than to risk exposing victims directly to the material or chemical.
Public officials will use this method more often than having victims moved to a different location. Asking people to go out in the air where the material or chemical might be, is many times too risky, and may cause more injuries than having them stay where they are.
In incidents that do involve very hazardous materials, they will advise some people within the immediate ARES to evacuate the area, but while doing so, to place a damp cloth across your nose and mouth until you can get out of the area.
For sheltering in place, you will be advised to turn off all heating or cooling units, fans and attic fans, ventilation systems, and cover all cracks with tape or wet towels. Whether this is at school, home, work, or play, if you are inside a building stay there.
Public officials will use different ways to advise the public about evacuations and Shelter in place. Systems used may be the EAS, (Emergency Alert System), which used to be called the Emergency Brooadcast System, the National Weather Service, Reverse 911, or the Everbridge system. More on the Everbridge system in a future bulletin.
Let’s be prepared, and learn well how to "Shelter in Place".
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV