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Evacuation is not always the response to major incidents.  Sometimes leaving the place you are currently in may place you in harms way.  Such situations as this call for sheltering-in-place. What is it? •    Shelter-in-place simply means to stay inside, no mater where you are: home, school, business, etc. •    Some extra precautions may be requested during sheltering-in-place; such as turning off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems. Such requests would take place during a contamination emergency and we would need to dissipate circulation.  Although losing air circulation might cause those within the facility to become uncomfortable, it will keep the situation from becoming life-threatening. What calls for Sheltering-In-Place? •    Generally, sheltering-in-place is recommended when there is little or no time to prepare for an incident or an incident that makes evacuation even riskier. •    In the event of a chemical or biological release, sheltering-in-place will most likely be recommended and will only have to remain sheltered for a few hours as air-borne agents dissipate quickly, usually. If the order to shelter-in-place is given, children and pets should be taken indoors immediately. As always, remain calm and follow recommended protective measures given to public by officials and emergency managers.  The local government will notify its residents when it is okay to stop sheltering-in-place.