should I stay or should i go?
This page includes information about preparing your home and your community for disasters that may include evacuating or sheltering in place. As Public Health Nurses, we have to consider our individual emergency plans as well as professional duties as ESF 8 support to Red Cross Shelters. The info on this page is meant to be helpful regardless of whether you are the one seeking shelter or providing it.
Sheltering in place (SIP)
What are some situations where you might want to seek shelter inside (or stay inside), as opposed to evacuating? There are actually quite a few. "Shelter-in-place" means to take immediate shelter where you are—at home, work, school, or in between. It may also mean sealing the room (preventing outside air flow) during an environmental or CBRNE event. It is important to listen to TV or radio to understand whether the authorities wish you to merely remain indoors or to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family.
These are a few preparedness sites that offer Shelter-in-Place guidance, checklists, food storage and supply charts, as well as tips for Sheltering-in-Place at work and non-residential environments.
evacuation and general sheltering
Southern states can experience some of the most violent weather extremes on earth. A typical year may include hurricanes, lightening, tornadoes, flash flooding, ice and snow. In the event of a community evacuation, emergency shelters will be available for people who have no other place to go. The best option for local residents is to go to a relative or friend’s home in an unaffected location. Information about shelters that are open will be available through newspapers, TV, radio, websites with interactive shelter maps, and smartphone apps like Ready Georgia and Shelter Finder.
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What to expect in an emergency shelter
Shelters are not hotels. They are typically schools or community centers that provide a large hardened area inside a sturdy building. Shelters may be crowded and uncomfortable, with limited privacy and electricity. Shelter volunteers do their best to make you comfortable, but a shelter is not a very comfortable place. If you are able, staying with friends or relatives is a better choice.
- Eat before you arrive, and it is best to bring your own food. Meals may not be available during the first 24 hours.
- Hundreds of people may be in the shelters, so be prepared to deal with a large cross-section of the community. Only service animals are permitted in public shelters.
- Bring your identification, valuable papers and medications in their original containers.
- Bring baby supplies.
- Bring blankets / sleeping bags, pillows. Bring folding chairs or bedding with you. Those are either not provided or limited in supply.
- Bring cards / games / books to pass the hours.
- Bring flashlights and a battery operated radio or TV with extra batteries for all.
- Stay inside and follow directions that are given for your comfort and safety.
- You will not be allowed outside until the official "all clear."
- Do not bring pets, weapons, alcohol or illegal drugs to shelters.
Additional Info: If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe. If you cannot return home and have immediate housing needs; text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelter in your area (example: shelter 12345).
Caring for individuals with special needs
See the Vulnerable Population page for a broader selection of resources on this subject.
Caring for pets during storms and evacuations
FEMA Disaster Data Visualization Tool
In June 2015, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rolled out a new data visualization tool that lets people see when and where disaster declarations have occurred in the US. The data visualization tool is accessible at fema.gov/data-visualization and allows users to view and interact with a wide array of FEMA data. Through the interactive platform, people can view the history of disaster declarations by hazard type or year and the financial support provided to states, tribes and territories, and access public datasets for further research and analysis. No doubt Congress and other major funders will be using this data to inform future grant allocations. Click here for more info on this tool.
Tools from georgia
American Red Cross (ARC) Georgia Region
ARC Disaster Health Services Manual (retired-2011)
DHS ESF 6 Mass Care Plan (2015)
DPH ESF 8 Mass Care Plan (2015)
Georgia ESF 6 Appendix I: State Mass Care Shelter Plan (2013)
MOU between DPH and ARC
List of ADA Partners for Special Needs Planning
DPH Functional and Access Needs Toolkit
Georgia Emergency Preparedness Agencies web links for ADA communities
ARC Disaster Health Services Manual (retired-2011)
DHS ESF 6 Mass Care Plan (2015)
DPH ESF 8 Mass Care Plan (2015)
Georgia ESF 6 Appendix I: State Mass Care Shelter Plan (2013)
MOU between DPH and ARC
List of ADA Partners for Special Needs Planning
DPH Functional and Access Needs Toolkit
Georgia Emergency Preparedness Agencies web links for ADA communities
Tools from other states
Alabama created a really great emergency handbook that is available for free in iTunes.
Missouri has a nice Public Health Guide for Emergency Shelters (for Shelter Coordinators
and Staff
Missouri has a nice Public Health Guide for Emergency Shelters (for Shelter Coordinators
and Staff