Shelter in place: What to do if you're in the area impacted

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HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Do you know what to do if a “shelter in place” is issued for your area?

Shelter-in-place means to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed, and turn off the air conditioning.

Here's a checklist from FEMA to help you and your loved ones stay safe if you are under a shelter in place.

• Bring your family and pets inside.
• Lock doors, close windows, air vents and fireplace dampers.
• Turn off fans, air conditioning and forced air heating systems.
• Go into an interior rooms with few windows, if possible.
• Be prepared to improvise and use what you have on hand to seal gaps so that you create a barrier between yourself and any contamination.
• Stay informed.

"You need to use the building as a way to protect yourself. You need to go into those interior areas.  Make sure all outdoor access to the air is closed off.  That way the bad air, the air where the hazardous materials are, you prevent them from coming inside,” explains Cory Stottlemyer with the City Of Houston Office of Emergency Management PIO.

Always make sure you have a way to receive emergency notifications and follow your local officials on social media.