Shelter-in-Place Preparation Checklist: 14 Items
Choose a safe indoor shelter and prepare household supplies for temporary shelter-in-place orders.
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๐ก๏ธ Prepare Before an Emergency
Notes: Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Save your city or county emergency management contact and follow current instructions.
Notes: Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Agree on a meeting point or short check-in message; keep contact information private.
Notes: Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Confirm safe water, medicines, and a charged radio or phone are accessible.
Notes: Tornado, smoke, chemical release, and radiation instructions are not interchangeable.
Tornado, smoke, chemical release, and radiation instructions are not interchangeable.
Notes: Know how to turn ventilation off if authorities advise it.
Know how to turn ventilation off if authorities advise it.
Notes: Include medicine, sanitation items, and communication devices.
Include medicine, sanitation items, and communication devices.
Notes: Avoid shelter areas that household members cannot safely reach.
Avoid shelter areas that household members cannot safely reach.
โ ๏ธ Respond Safely When Needed
Notes: Do not assume sealing a room is appropriate for every hazard.
Do not assume sealing a room is appropriate for every hazard.
Notes: Choose suitable interior protection for severe wind or other threats.
Choose suitable interior protection for severe wind or other threats.
Notes: Receive updated instructions about duration and evacuation.
Receive updated instructions about duration and evacuation.
Notes: Leave only if officials direct or there is immediate life danger.
Leave only if officials direct or there is immediate life danger.
๐ Recover, Maintain & Review
Notes: Some hazards remain after visible conditions improve.
Some hazards remain after visible conditions improve.
Notes: Follow public health and emergency management directions.
Follow public health and emergency management directions.
Notes: Note any accessibility or communications gaps.
Note any accessibility or communications gaps.
Complete Guide
How to Use This Checklist
Choose a safe indoor shelter and prepare household supplies for temporary shelter-in-place orders.
Follow current alerts and instructions from local officials. Hazards, climate, geography, access requirements, and household needs can change which actions are appropriate.
Important Safety and Scope Notes
This practical checklist is an independent, English-language adaptation of the Ready.gov preparedness topic. It does not reproduce FEMA publications and is not endorsed by FEMA or any U.S. government agency.
Use this checklist to organize preparations and recovery tasks. In an active emergency, follow the latest official instructions rather than relying on a static checklist.
Related & Useful Checklists
Open a related checklist for supporting tasks and household planning.
Sources & Official Guidance
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