Leaving the Safe Room

Wait for official notification before leaving your safe room. With chemicals, the danger usually dissipates in a few hours. Weather conditions play a role in how quickly the chemicals are diluted to a residual level that is no longer dangerous. Wind, for example, will cause the chemicals to blow away. Usually, you can leave the safe room several hours after the incident, assuming there are not continued attacks or leaks (as in the case of a continuing industrial emergency).

With a biological threat, the danger can last much longer. Anthrax and other bacteria and viruses may break down after exposure to sunlight, but weaponized anthrax presents a greater threat, with residual amounts remaining at ground level that could be stirred up when you walk over it.

If you have reason to believe that anthrax or another biological hazard has been spread in your neighborhood, you should remain in your safe room as long as you can comfortably do so without running out of oxygen, water or food.

Use caution when leaving the house and consider getting a test or possible antibiotic treatment.

Sheltering In A Vehicle

If you are driving a vehicle and hear advice to “shelter-in-place” on the radio, take these steps:

• If you are very close to home, your office, or a public building, go there immediately and go inside.
• Follow the shelter-in-place recommendations for the place you pick described above.
• If you are unable to get to a home or building quickly and safely, then pull over to the side of the road. Stop your vehicle in the safest place possible.
• If it is sunny outside, it is preferable to stop under a bridge or in a shady spot, to avoid being overheated.
• Turn off the engine.
• Close windows and vents.
• If possible, seal the heating/air conditioning vents with duct tape..
• Listen to the radio regularly for updated advice and instructions
• Stay where you are until you are told it is safe to get back on the road.
• Be aware that some roads may be closed or traffic detoured.
• Follow the directions of law enforcement officials.

Local officials on the scene are the best source of information for your particular situation. Following their instructions during and after emergencies regarding sheltering, food, water, and clean up methods is your safest choice.

Note that an instruction to shelter-in-place is usually issued and intended for durations of several hours, not days or weeks, since the lethal properties of chemical and biological agents tend to dissipate over time, especially if they are not deployed in a closed area.

Under most conditions - assuming your safe room shelter is adequately assembled and large enough to contain enough air for the number of people taking shelter - an air filtering device will not be necessary for short-term protection.