Emergency Shelter in Place Procedures

You may be required to Shelter In Place for events such as:

• Tornado warning or other severe weather events.
• Active shooter, building intruder, or civil disturbance.
• Hazardous materials release.
• As directed by police personnel for any other situation that requires you to find protection within a building.
• When to Shelter in Place: You must immediately seek shelter in the nearest facility or building (preferably in a room with no windows) when:
• You hear the All Hazards Outdoors Emergency Warning Sirens.
• When directed by police or fire department personnel.

 

General Procedures: 

Purdue FW ALERT, the University’s emergency warning notification system, will be used to notify the Purdue community of a “shelter in place” situation.

 

If you are “sheltering” due to a tornado warning, immediately go to a safe location in your building.

• Proceed to the basement of any building that has a basement or sub-walk. Position yourself in the safest portion of the area away from glass.  Be prepared to kneel facing a wall and cover your head.
• In high-rise (four stories or more) buildings, vacate the top floor and move to a lower floor or to the basement.  Position yourself in an interior corridor away from glass.  Be prepared to kneel facing the wall and cover your head.
• If time permits, occupants of wood-frame or brick buildings with wood floors should leave the building and go directly to a more substantial concrete building, preferably with a basement.
• Any occupant who encounters a student or visitor should direct them to take appropriate actions.
• Any occupant that encounters a physically disabled individual should assist them if possible.
• Try and obtain additional clarifying information by all possible means (e.g. Purdue Fort Wayne Homepage, TV, radio, email, etc.)

 

If you are “sheltering” due to an active shooter, building intruder or a civil disturbance on campus, immediately go to a safe location in your building (normally the police department will be the notification method).

• If possible, take refuge in a room that can be locked.
• If possible, close and lock the room’s door (s).  If unable to lock the door secure it by any means possible.
• The room should also provide limited visibility to anyone that is outside of it.
• Hide under a desk, in a closet, or in the corner.
• After getting to a safe location and without jeopardizing your safety, try and obtain additional clarifying information by all possible means (e.g. Purdue Fort Wayne Homepage, TV, radio, email, etc.)
• Report any suspicious activity if you can do so without jeopardizing your safety…Call 911 if possible.

If you are “sheltering” due to a hazardous materials (HAZMAT) accidental release of toxic chemicals the air quality may be threatened and sheltering in place keeps you inside an area offering more protection.  For a HAZMAT situation you should, if possible, take the following actions:

• Close all windows and doors.
• Move to the shelter in place location.
• Do not go outside or attempt to drive unless you are specifically instructed to evacuate. 
• Do not use elevators as they may pump air into or out of the building.
• Any occupant who encounters a student or visitor should direct them to take appropriate actions.
• Any occupant that encounters a physically disabled individual should assist them if possible.
• Try and obtain additional clarifying information by all possible means (e.g. Purdue Fort Wayne Homepage, TV, radio, email, etc.)

 

If you are directed to shelter in place, but you are unaware of the specific reason, proceed to the lowest level of the building but continue to seek additional information by all possible means to determine the type of incident. 

Once you have determined the type of emergency, follow the below chart if there are no building specific procedures:

EMERGENCY	EMERGENCY ASSEMBLY AREA (EAA)— SHELTER IN PLACE
Weather-Related—Tornado Warning	Basement corridors, basement offices, basement restrooms Or the lowest level of the building (stay away from windows and doors)
Civil Disturbance—active shooter	Seek a safe location, preferably a room without windows that can be locked or secured by barriers.
Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) Release	Remain or find an unaffected office or work area and close windows and doors.