If you are asked to shelter in place, here is a basic list of what to do:

• Remain calm.
  
• Close the business.
  
• Bring everyone into your shelter-in-place areas. Close doors.
  
• If you have customers, clients, or visitors, provide for their safety by asking them to stay – not leave. When authorities provide directions to shelter-in-place, they want everyone to take those steps now, where they are, and not drive or walk outdoors.
  
• Unless there is an imminent threat, ask employees, customers, clients, and visitors to call their personal emergency contact to let them know where they are and that they are safe.
  
• Turn on call-forwarding or alternative telephone answering systems or services. If the business has voice mail or an automated attendant, change the recording to indicate that the business is closed, and that staff and visitors are remaining in the building until authorities advise it is safe to leave.
  
• If you are told there is danger of explosion, close the window shades, blinds, or curtains.
  
• Gather essential disaster supplies and equipment.
  
• It is ideal to have a hard-wired telephone in the room(s) you select. Call emergency contacts and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Cellular telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.
  
• Write down the names of everyone in the room, and call your business’ designated emergency contact to report who is in the room with you, and their affiliation with your business (employee, visitor, client, customer.)