Deciding to Stay or Go

Some emergencies — such as fire — will require you to get out fast, while others may require that you stay. Make sure that everyone in your studio knows the best escape route, as well as a secondary one.

What to do if you can’t or shouldn’t leave your studio?

If you are considering staying put during an emergency, ask yourself:

• Has my structure weathered other emergencies? If so, how did it fare?
• Do I have time to secure the structure’s exterior?
• Do I have tarps and plastic sheeting?
• Is there a safe interior room?
• Do I have a vehicle with a full tank of gas?
• Do I have adequate food, water, and disaster supplies to survive a week?
• Do I have a battery-operated radio, with extra batteries?
• Do I have enough medication, and/or will I have access to medical care if needed?

High Winds: Tornado and Hurricane

Safer places inside

• Have a designated safe place to shelter during a tornado or hurricane. This can be a basement, downstairs bathroom, closet, interior hallway, or other small room that is structurally sound and safe from flying glass. If you are in a bathroom, get into the bathtub and cover yourself with a mattress or sofa cushion so you will be protected on all sides.
• Helmets or hard hats, especially those with face protection provide extra protection while in your safe room.
• If you are in an office building, shopping center, or other building away from home, take shelter in a smaller interior room, bathroom, or hallway on a lower level. Avoid areas with wide expanses of roof that could collapse on you. A space under a heavy piece of furniture or a corner may provide protection against falling objects and flying debris.
• Schools and some commercial buildings will have plans and designated

Less safe places

• A mobile home is not a safe place to be in a tornado or a hurricane, even if strapped to the ground. If you are in a mobile home community seek shelter in a more substantial building, and as a last resort during a tornado warning, take refuge in a ditch, culvert or other low-lying area.
• If you are in your car, stop and take shelter in a building. As a last resort during a tornado warning, take refuge in a ditch, culvert or other low-lying area, or during a hurricane drive to where cover can be found (a parking garage or under an overpass). Don’t drive through flooded areas or park in a low-lying area.

Staying informed

• Listen to your NOAA weather radio. Be sure the alarm is turned up loud enough that you can hear it from any room. Stay alert during a tornado or hurricane watch and use the time to make last-minute preparations such as moving people and pets inside. At the first sound of a tornado or hurricane warning move yourself and others to your safe place.
• If you have power, stay tuned to your local TV station with the best weather reporting.

Earthquake

Safer responses

• Don’t Panic and Don’t Run, and especially don’t run outside if you are inside. You may be hit by falling debris.
• Drop, Cover, Hold On – Find a spot to wait out the earthquake, next to an inside wall under a piece of sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table that will protect you from falling debris. Hold on to a table leg or part of the furniture.
• Stay away from windows, mirrors and pictures where glass could shatter, and from areas where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
• Turn off gas, water and electricity.
• Be prepared for after-shocks.

Staying informed

• After the earthquake, listen to the radio or television for information.

Power Outage

Preparing to Stay Put Safely