One Year to Be Prepared: Month 11 Checklist

(For the complete list of One Year to be Prepared lists, click here)

MONTH ELEVEN: SHELTER IN PLACE

There is a difference between Shelter in Place and Shelter at Home.

Shelter in Home means to stay inside your house with windows and doors closed and locked until further notice.

Shelter in Place is used for emergencies due to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear event, and means gathering all necessary items in a shelter, such as an internal room (preferably one with sealed doors, no windows, and disabled central heating/air conditioning), and staying put until further notice.

Supplies to Shelter in Place

Communications

Cell phone, computer, and chargers
NOAA radio with AM/FM radio
Pen and paper

Emergency Equipment

Fire extinguisher
Blankets and sleeping bags
Trash bags
Commonly-used tools
Hand-crank flashlights or glow sticks
Duct tape, plastic sheeting (pre-measured for doors and windows), and a towel to put under the door

Water and Food

One gallon of water per person/pet per day
Food for each person for several days
Pet food and litter box

First Aid

First aid kit with instructions
Goggles and eye drops
Extra prescription medication

Sanitary Supplies

Two-bucket system or portable chemical toilet, as well as toilet paper
Personal hygiene items
Latex gloves
Paper towels/rags
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes

Planning

Download useful emergency notification apps on your cell phone to stay informed about weather, and about local, state, and federal emergencies.
Make a plan for sheltering in place.

Train or Be Trained

Take “Stop the Bleed” training (go to www.stopthebleed.org for more info).
Practice your CPR and First Aid skills.

Supplies – Gather or Purchase

Review your Shelter in Place needs, and gather or purchase any items you’re missing.
Add water and food for an additional three days to your kits.
Consider purchasing some of the “emergency foods” that have a very long shelf life, such as Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), food ration bars, or any other items that you might find by searching “emergency food” online. Preferably, these foods would have a shelf life of 5 – 25 (or more) years.