Preparedness category
Emergency shelter planning
Understand shelter-in-place decisions and prepare to use a public shelter when officials direct it.
Use this general checklist as a starting point, then follow instructions from local authorities, utilities, clinicians, and emergency services for the situation in front of you.
Prepare before a disruption
- Learn the difference between sheltering in place and relocating to a public shelter.
- Choose interior shelter locations appropriate to the hazards you may face.
- Prepare essential medicine, identification, accessibility items, and supplies to take to a shelter.
- Follow instructions from local officials because the safest shelter action depends on the incident.
Make the plan usable
- Assign responsibilities and make sure every household member can find the plan and supplies.
- Account for disability, language, transportation, age, dietary, and caregiving needs.
- Review supplies and contact information periodically and replace expired or damaged items.
When conditions change
Use current information from emergency officials and service providers. A general article cannot determine whether a particular building, route, food item, water source, or medical situation is safe.
- Act on evacuation, shelter, boil-water, fire, and other official instructions promptly.
- Call emergency services for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
Important: This public education does not provide a forecast, risk score, medical judgment, or private household recommendation.
Related PREPHAUS resources
Official sources
Source links are provided for provenance and current official instructions. No publication or retrieval date is asserted here.