Shelter in Place

This week, shots once again were heard on the campus of Virginia Tech, and a shelter-in-place (SiP) situation followed. We don't know if they had SiP supplies in all the campus buildings, because the situation fortunately did not last very long. But the incident should give us all pause to consider how prepared we are for such a situation. This week's links will take you to sites that will help you plan and prepare.

The CDC offers advice on how to shelter in place. (Item #1)   These helpful sites can make your SiP planning easier. (Item #2)   This might or might not work for you, but the federal government's new snowstorm policy is worth considering. (Item #3)  

ChicagoFirst offers best practice guidelines for sheltering in place. (Item #4)   LifeSecure.com has supplies and tools for sheltering in place. (Item #5)   QuakeKare.com also offers a line of kits and information for an SiP situation. (Item #6)  

As always, we look forward to hearing your comments & insights regarding business continuity. If you have a topic you'd like us to cover, email me at [email protected].

Bob Mellinger, President
Attainium Corp

1. Learn How to Shelter in Place

Shelter in place can mean different things at different times. 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.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/preparedness/shelter/

2. Shelter-In-Place Information

The National Institute for Chemical Studies points you to various sites where you can obtain SiP info on different topics. There also is a link to a model SiP plan you can adapt for your own use.
http://www.nicsinfo.org/sipcenter.asp

3. New snow policy for federal workers: 'Shelter in place'

The government's Office of Personnel Management announced its new plan for snowstorms last month. It now includes a shelter-in-place provision, saying that if employees don't leave by the time they're told to, they will have to stick around until they are cleared to leave.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/new-snow-policy-for-feds-shelter-in-place/2011/11/01/gIQAfnvwfM_story.html

4. Shelter-in-Place - A "Best Practice" Guideline

This document serves as a guideline for implementing a life safety program that includes Sheltering in Place and is intended to incorporate currently known best practices. It should not be considered a definitive, all encompassing resource on the topic, but rather a collection of techniques that are the accepted practices for achieving maximum safety for employees.
https://www.chicagofirst.org/resources/shelter_in_place.pdf

5. Shelter-In-Place Emergency Kits & Shelter-In-Place Supplies

Many emergencies and disasters may require you to "shelter in place" - stay where you are. It is important to have a shelter-in-place kit and shelter-in-place supplies to ensure that you can survive without access to basic goods & services: water, food, electricity, sanitation/hygiene, etc. This site has supplies for work, home and school.
http://www.lifesecure.com/shelter-in-place-kits.asp

6. Survival and Emergency Kits: The 3 Steps to Emergency Preparedness

In today's world, we must be prepared for any unexpected disaster. No matter which geographical area we live in, there are potentials for manmade disasters, such as a terrorist attacks or arson fires; and natural disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, blizzards and tornadoes. QuakeKare.com offers information and supplies for sheltering in place.
http://www.quakekare.com/