If a hurricane strikes New England, state or local Public Safety Officials may instruct you to “Shelter-in-Place”. As with Evacuations, you would be alerted in a variety of ways. Learn what methods are utilized in your community.
IF THERE IS NO ELECTRICITY A BATTERY OPERATED RADIO MAY BE YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR DAYS.
• The Emergency Alert System (EAS) - information provided on the radio and television.
• National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Alert Radio.
• ‘All Call’, ‘Reverse 911’ or ‘Code Red’ – one of a number of automated telephoning systems for sending recorded messages to which your community may subscribe.
• News Media.
• Residential Route Alerting, which dispatches Public Safety vehicles through neighborhoods announcing messages with Public Address systems or literally ‘knocking on doors”.
• U.S. Coast Guard Marine Broadcast.
• A message on Teletypewriters (TTY).
The following are steps to be taken only when instructed to ‘Shelter-in-Place’, not to be completed ahead of time:
• If instructed by Public Safety officials, you should immediately go indoors.
• Close and lock all doors and windows. Locking is preferred since it generally ensures that the door or window is shut tight.
• Close drapes, blinds and window shades.
• Protect windows with pre-drilled plywood sheets.
• Go to a room in the center of your home with the fewest windows and doors.
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone (not battery powered)in the room you select. Cellular telephone equipment may not function during and after an emergency for several days.
• Do not call your local fire or police departments (9-1-1) for information. Public Safety workers will need their lines open for emergency use. Call your local Emergency Management Office or 2-1-1, which is available 24/7 to respond to your questions.
• Take your Family Disaster Kit to that location.
• Keep pets indoors. Make sure you have additional food and water supplies for them.
• If you have livestock, shelter them, also. Provide them with stored feed and water.
• Continue to monitor your Emergency Alert Station (EAS) and other Media for official warnings, messages and instructions.
• Stay inside until officials say otherwise.
• If you are in your vehicle and are advised to ‘Shelter-in-Place’, and are very close to home, your office or a public building, go there immediately.
The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the State of Rhode Island. RIEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about RIEMA and Hurricane Preparedness, go to www.riema.ri.gov . Follow RIEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.